Floor plans are essential while designing or building an architectural structure. One of the features that make a floor plan good is its ability to maintain a nice flow between the spaces.
The floor designs are usually created by drafters or architects. It is then used by the contractors and engineers to build the property. Its purpose is to provide a detailed representation of the property. The details usually include the dimension, fixture, and spatial relationships.
Before you start creating the floor plans, it is necessary to get a brief idea about its concept. That is why, in the article, you will learn about the floor plan, its use, and the best tips and steps to create them.
You will also get to know some of the best software that is available for free floor plan design software and can help with floor plan creation.
A floor plan is the top-view diagram of a room or an entire building structure drawn to scale. It is mainly used for architectural design and construction by architects and engineers. Besides, it can also be used as a marketing tool by real estate agents and companies to rent or sell a property.
A basic floor plan design offers the needed insights into the building details. It usually includes the room measurements, window locations, furniture, traffic patterns, and more. This means it is not just useful to the architects and property agents but also the buyers.
Buyers can effectively use the house plans to check if the proposed building structure suits their requirements. Even if it doesn’t suit, it is not a problem anymore. With modern technology, they can now customize it according to their needs.
From the above, it was quite clear what value a floor plan drawing holds for architectural design and construction. So, if you have decided to create them, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
By following these tips, you can save time and lots of trouble while drawing the floor designs.
Here are some simple steps to help beginners draw an efficient floor plan.
Identify the size and shape of the building to be drawn. If the building already exists, determine the area of the desired room or floor.
Accurately measure the doors, walls, and furniture elements. You can also inspect other buildings built in similar areas to estimate the floor plans.
Add walls with the desired thickness for each room of the building.
Add different architectural features to the plan to make the plan look better. For example, you can add doors, windows, refrigerators, plants, grass, etc.
Add furniture or décor elements to give the house plans a homely feel. You may add beds, sofas, cabinets, and many more.
Now that you have learned how to draw a floor plan, let us move to the next question.
Which is the best software for creating floor plans?
The answer to this question will depend on your requirements.
Do you need to create a 2D floor plan or 3D drawing? Are you looking for software that can create house plan drawings for free? Or are you ready for a little investment?
Well, all the software we are about to mention is available for free use. Paid options are also available. So, get an idea about them and choose the desired software.
Note: Beginners can use the below software for practice. These can help in creating both basic and advanced house plan designs. Yet, the software mentioned here is only suitable for residential and commercial purposes. It can't be used for industrial floor planning.
It was formerly known as RoomSketcher Home Designer. Both beginners and professionals can use this software for their house drawing needs. Apart from that, it can also aid with creating 3D walkthroughs, 360-degree panoramic photos, etc.
Key Features:
This application will help you to draw innovative and detailed 2D or 3D floor plans in minutes. The editor can run in any web browser. It also employs the best features for developing attractive architectural designs.
Key Features:
It is one of the best software and can be used as an all-in-one drawing tool. It means that you can use it to create floor plans, flowcharts, or org charts. The application can be accessed from any device or web browser and can create floor plans in minutes.
Key Features:
The tool is user-friendly and contains robust features for architectural drafting and modeling. Even the basic version has ample tools to help with the creation of 3D designs and models. It can be employed during any stage of the design and construction process.
Key Features:
The software is designed by AutoDesk and offers BIM solutions. The free version is available for 3 years while the paid one comes with a monthly or yearly subscription. Several civil engineering and construction companies use it for creating 3D home designs.
Key Features:
This room planning module can help you to create interactive floor plans in both 2D and 3D. The digital configurator can also help furniture designers to showcase and market their stocks.
Key Features:
This software helps with the creation of detailed floor plans and technical diagrams. It runs on both Mac and Windows operating systems. It can be used to create 2D drawings and documentation for all kinds of projects.
Key Features:
The toolset is bundled within AutoCAD and is best suited for the architect’s work. It is one of the best software for creating 3D house floor plans. The student version is available for free use and is only active for 3 years.
Key Features:
This floor planner tool offers the ultimate solution to design and create floor plans. The tool is easy-to-use and can also help with designing the interior and exterior spaces. However, keep in mind that the free version won’t allow you to print or download files.
Key Features:
It is one of the powerful 2D CAD drawing software designed by cadlogic. It helps users with drafting, detailing, and 3D modeling of architectural properties. It enables the importing of AutoCAD files, symbols, and design components.
Key Features:
This open-source tool is usually employed for interior designing. It can help you with creating house plans and arranging the furniture elements. It can run on various operating systems, like Windows, Linux, Mac, Solaris, etc.
Key Features:
Here are a few examples of floor plans which you can use as a reference.
Drawing a floor plan is critical for the building creation process. There is no going back once the walls are built. So, take the required time to brainstorm ideas and create accurate floor plans with dimensions.
As for beginners, creating a floor design can be difficult at first. But with time, you will eventually get the idea to develop great designs. A piece of advice is to practice and keep patience.
There will also be times when you will run out of ideas or may not be happy with how the floor plan turned out. In that case, getting a second opinion from the experts can help you go a long way.