6 Best Software & Apps for Building Tiny Houses

Designing your home is a wonderful time, but it can be a bit confusing without the right tools at your disposal.

Experts have software and programs that make designing a tiny house simple. How can you do the same thing on your own at home?

If you are trying to avoid hiring a designer for your project, you are going to want to check out some of these software programs and apps that can help you to get the basics of your home sketched out.

1. DreamPlan Home Design Software

Whether you want to build in 2D or 3D, DreamPlan Home Design software can make it happen.

You can easily create the floor plan of your house as well as the landscaping that surrounds it.

Use their interior design function to place 3D furniture, fixtures, and more directly inside of your home.You can design your tiny house kitchen right down to the smallest detail so that you can rest assured that everything will fit.

One of the unique things that set DreamPlan apart is the ability to design with colors.Try different colors and textures out before you make a big commitment to a design scheme.

You can even move and rearrange furniture before you make any major purchases. This is great not just for new tiny houses in the design process but for old tiny houses that need some updates.

This software runs on Mac OS X and does need to be downloaded to work. You cannot access it through the web browser.

2. CAD Pro

When it comes to designing floorplans and 3D models, most people have heard of CAD.

The user-friendly interface makes it simple for you to record ideas and visualize the construction of your new tiny house.

There are plenty of DIY home plans and projects that you can open as a starting point and then customize according to your unique needs.

You can even customize the outdoor areas around your new tiny house.

The finished design plans can be shared with others using Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or SharePoint. You can also export your files to Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint with just one click.

CAD Pro is known for producing professional quality drawings but at a lower price tag compared to other CAD programs. Unfortunately, this is not a free tool. It will cost you approximately $99.95 to get started with their library of resources.

3. Floorplanner

Made in 2007, Floorplanner has been a longstanding favorite for tiny house designers.

You can complete both 2D and 3D floor plans with their free software. At its most basic level that they provide for free, you have full drawing functionality, exports in SD resolution, and access to more than 150,000 3D models.

Upgrades will cost you, but you earn infinitely more features. For example, a 10-credit purchase gives you a 3D tour of the home using virtual reality.

Unfortunately, the free version of this program only allows you to make a single-story floor plan. For some people, this may be enough to get their tiny house drafted. On the other hand, others would prefer to make several plans and compare them.

This is an online tool that works directly through your web browser.

4. Homebyme

You can get started with Homebyme free for your first three projects.

It takes no time at all to learn how this software works. Manipulate your floor plan in either 2D or 3D. The 2D view uses squares and rectangles to represent important aspects of the home, while the 3D model uses simple blocks.

Using their virtual catalog of branded products, you can completely furnish your home. This is essential for tiny house builders because every square foot needs to be maximized.

Make sure you have room for your new sofa, desk, and all other essential items.

What really sets this software apart from the others? It features a walk-through mode so you can get a better idea of what it would look like to truly live inside the home.

You can tour it from different heights to get an idea of what it would look like from your personal vantage point.

5. Sketchup

Sketchup is one of the leading free software that you can use directly from your web browser.

It is a core 3D modeler that enables you to see exactly what your tiny house plans will look like in real-time. They also have a 3D warehouse where you can access user-generated and manufacturer-produced models to breathe fresh life into your designs.

If all of this wasn’t enough, it also grants you 10GB of Trimble Connect cloud storage so that you can collaborate with others on your project.

This is great if you want to have your plans reviewed a professional before you move forward with your building project.

One of the good things about Sketchup is that it can be used directly through your web browser. There’s no need to download programs that will just take up space on your hard drive.

You can use the free version for standard model viewing but will need to upgrade if you want AR model viewing.

6. Sweet Home 3D

Do you want to see what your home is going to look like fully furnished? If so, Sweet Home 3D might be the best resource for you.

You can easily draw the plan in 2D and instantly see it pop up in 3D. It gives you visual guides as you go through the drawing process, and it also allows you to drag and drop furniture into the floor plan.

For those who need a little technical help, they have an easy to follow video right on their home page that walks you through the entire process.

The program is available for free and can be downloaded or accessed directly through your internet browser. It is available in English, French, and 25 other languages.

Resources

DreamPlan Home Design Software

CAD Pro

Floorplanner

Homebyme

Sketchup

Sweet Home 3D