Renovation design online tools

Realise your dreams in 3D

• For simple-to-use online 3D planning tools for your kitchen, laundry and even wardrobes, try the Bunnings website.
• It helps if you plan to shop at IKEA, but even if you don’t, you can design your dream home with IKEA’s planning tools. Start by setting up rooms with the same dimensions as your home, then drag and drop furniture into them. Rearrange it, view it in 3D and try different styles; you can print your final selection with measurements, shopping list and approximate cost.
• Autodesk’s Homestyler offers much the same capabilities, except that you can choose products from other resellers. View designs in 2D and 3D, then drag and drop room shapes, doors or windows and experiment with real products (furniture, appliances, décor and artwork) from well-known brands.
• The  Homestyler Interior Design app allows you to take a picture of your room, then add the furniture and fittings. It was chosen by Macworld as one of the best Apple products of 2013, while Architectural Digest put it on their list of can’t-live-without decorating apps.
• For the more technical, Google’s SketchUp Pro offers 3D-modelling software for designers, architects and engineers. It has a suite of additional tools, such as 3D Warehouse, where you can find everything from ‘a particular chair for the room you’re designing’ to ‘a rhino for the zoo’.

Play with colour

Choosing the right colours to paint your home can be daunting, but there are plenty of apps and online tools available to help you see how your favourite colours will look together before you lift a brush.

• Mix and match colours to create a scheme that is right for you with Resene’s free virtual painting software EzyPaint. Try it online or download for free.
• Use Colorjive to upload a photo of your room, select colours and watch the room transform. Swap around until you’re happy with the result. The first upload is free, or you can spend US$12 a month for unlimited uploads.
• Paint My Place is another free design-and-editing DIY tool for your smartphone. Capture or upload a photo of any aspect of your property (inside or out) and play with the paint colours.

These are just some of the many online tools that let you see how colour and furnishings will look in your home before you start your renovation. If you know of others, we’d love to hear about them.