‍13 Best 3D Interior Design Software for Photorealistic Rendering
3d rendering of a modern living room with a rug, couch, coffee table and banana tree.‍13 Best 3D Interior Design Software for Photorealistic Rendering

3D rendering has revolutionized interior design, helping professionals accurately plan projects and present ideas to clients. Hand-drawn sketches don’t cut it anymore; everyone expects photorealistic renders now.

Enter 3D interior design software. This innovative tool lets designers showcase how a particular space will look before any work begins, facilitating wise decision-making and streamlining communication and collaboration with clients, architects, and other parties.

The problem is many tools exist; picking only one seems impossible. Whether you’re a newbie dipping your toes in 3D interior design or a professional looking to switch platforms, the list below will help you narrow your search.

Here are the best 3D interior design software solutions for photorealistic rendering to impress clients and enrich your portfolio.

1. AutoCAD

We can’t discuss modern interior design without the leading pioneer in the field. AutoCAD has been around since 1982, helping interior designers, architects, and engineers create 2D and 3D models of various objects, surfaces, features, and layouts.

Precision 2D drafting, 3D mapping, 3D modeling, 3D scanning, and photorealistic rendering are only some features Autodesk’s AutoCAD offers.

It lets you design mesh, solid, and surface models, stylize them with unique materials, and experiment with lighting to create life-like 3D renders.

The best part is you don’t need a powerful device to create 3D renders because AutoCAD lets you do it in the cloud. Once you do, you can play with many navigation features to present your designs from every angle.

2. Revit

Revit is another innovative solution by Autodesk, catering to interior designers, architects, and engineers. Unlike AutoCAD, its primary focus isn’t computer-aided design but building information modeling (BIM).

That doesn’t mean this BIM software is only for collaboration and document-sharing. It’s excellent for creating and editing 3D models, maybe even more detailed than in AutoCAD, because you feed schematic designs with real-life information into the program.

Creating conceptual designs, adding doors, windows, furniture, plumbing fixtures, and other objects, and converting 3D models into realistic 3D visualizations is a breeze in Revit.

Still, Revit is best for cross-team collaboration. It connects users in the cloud, gives them a roadmap for any project, and streamlines tasks with automated updates.

Unlike most tools on this list, this software is available only on Windows, but you can use Parallels Desktop to run it on macOS.

3. TurboCAD

TurboCAD by IMSI Design, another CAD pioneer, is professional software for 2D drafting and 3D visualizations. It supports conceptual and mechanical drawing and life-like surface modeling and has advanced tools for applying materials to objects and modifying any geometry. It also lets you create parametric 3D patterns.

Its intuitive interface makes for a seamless user experience. It may seem complex at first glance, but the setup wizard and context-sensitive help will assist you, making the tool ideal for beginners.

You can integrate it with many third-party tools, including Autodesk’s solutions, to streamline file-sharing, communication, and collaboration.

The best part? You have a permanent license once you download TurboCAD. Most other tools are available only with a subscription.

4. 3ds Max

3ds Max is another Autodesk solution and among the best 3D interior design software. It’s a 3D computer graphics tool for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation, making it ideal for the entertainment industry.

Besides film and TV production and game development, 3ds Max helps interior designers, architects, and engineers create photorealistic images of buildings and other objects.

It lets you create top-notch 3D renders with the most intricate details and preview them before rendering to ensure maximum accuracy. You can add and edit multiple objects, materials, colors, and textures to produce seamless designs and include the finishing touches that will impress the viewers.

3ds Max has a user-friendly interface that makes designing a breeze, no matter how complex your models and renders are.

5. SketchUp

SketchUp is a favorite among many interior designers, helping them leverage robust 3D modeling and rendering to visualize projects.

You can use it to create 2D floor plans and elevations, convert them into customized 3D models, and add multiple elements for an authentic feel, including furniture, lighting, fixtures, and accessories.

The platform has pre-built templates of materials and various components, saving you time and helping you design realistic, detailed spaces. It provides unlimited cloud storage, perfect for keeping your professional-grade 3D interior designs in one place.

Its web-based tool makes file-sharing and collaboration seamless. It helps all project stakeholders stay on the same page with in-depth reports on measurements, energy use, and other building information.

The best part is it supports VR platforms like Oculus and HTC Vive, letting you provide clients with virtual walkthroughs of your designs to convey their beauty.

6. Adobe Substance 3D

Adobe Substance 3D is a suite of 3D design and AR tools for creating high-quality, detailed 3D models and rendering photorealistic 3D scenes. Here’s what it offers:

  • Substance 3D Painter – texture v3D assets and manipulate layers;
  • Substance 3D Designer – create unique and modify existing materials;
  • Substance 3D Sampler – snap a photo of any surface and convert it into a 3D asset;
  • Substance 3D Modeler – design 3D models in VR or on desktop;
  • Substance 3D Stager – add materials, lighting, and other 3D assets to create photorealistic renders;
  • Substance 3D Assets – access an extensive library of over 15,000 3D assets and customize them to your needs.

These feature-rich tools can make your projects spectacular. They have everything you need for high-end 3D interior design, helping you achieve a level of realism and detail you can only dream of with other software.

7. Planner 5D

Planner 5D is an intuitive 3D interior design tool anyone can use. It doesn’t require professional skills or experience to create 2D floor plans and turn them into 3D images, making it excellent for beginners.

It lets you add furniture, walls, flooring, lighting, and other design elements and play with their sizes, colors, and materials. It also supports 3D rendering, saving you time with automatic modifications to 3D models (e.g., adding depth and shadows).

3D rendering is available only with a paid version, which has advanced features and lets you access the 5,000-item library and export your designs. However, other tools provide much better visualizations, making Planner 5D ideal for honing your skills rather than showcasing stunning work.

Planner 5D has one of the best 3D interior design mobile apps, letting you create and modify 3D designs on Android and iOS, even offline. However, a free trial is only available on iOS and macOS.

8. Chief Architect

Chief Architect is an architectural home design tool for architects, interior designers, and professionals building or remodeling homes. It’s perfect for seamless collaboration with project stakeholders, who can share 2D construction documentation and 3D assets using the 3D Viewer app.

Like other 3D design tools, this one lets you create 2D floor plans, elevations, 3D models, and 3D renders, providing all the elements necessary to make them shine. You can also make 360-degree panorama renders and compelling virtual tours.

Chief Architect primarily supports residential design but can also be valuable for light commercial design. The best part is it automatically creates a list of all the materials necessary for a project.

Like TurboCAD, you can pay a one-time fee to buy Chief Architect. You can also choose a monthly subscription to access its features, training content, and live webinars.

9. Roomeon

Roomeon is 3D interior design software for beginners. It lets you create 3D room models and enrich them with real-world furnishings, helping you learn the ropes before switching to an advanced platform.

It helps you plan every little detail down to all the measurements to ensure maximum accuracy and seamless collaboration with architects and clients. You can use a first-person view, a bird’s-eye perspective, or a 3D view with disappearing walls to showcase your designs.

This user-friendly 3D room planner lets you draw 2D floor plans, drag and drop furnishings from its extensive catalog, customize lighting and shadows, and render designs from pre-built templates. You can also see how a specific room will look throughout the day with a “Create the Mood” feature.

Roomeon is available only on Windows and macOS, free of charge.

10. Homestyler

Homestyler by Easyhome is an online interior design platform for residential design projects. Whether you’re a professional interior designer or wish to remodel or renovate your home, this affordable tool can help you create beautiful designs in 3D.

The platform lets you draw 2D floor plans, automatically turn them into 3D, and visualize ideas in incredible detail. Photorealistic renders, panoramas, animated videos, and VR tours are among its best features, which you can also access in its intuitive mobile app.

You can use templates and play with demo projects if you’re a beginner or create designs from scratch. Its video tutorials and vast furniture library will help, offering 300,000+ models, including real-world items from famous brands.

Do you want to share your creations with clients and other stakeholders? Homestyler gives access to a team model library and a shared design space to keep everyone in the loop.

11. Cedreo

Cedreo is another cloud-based 3D home design software for interior designers, remodeling experts, and home builders. However, it’s more advanced than several previous tools, making it suitable for professionals.

It features a library of 7,000+ customizable models, including furniture, materials, textures, decor, flooring, and surface coverings. It offers one-on-one training and supports unlimited projects and file-sharing.

Besides creating 2D and 3D floor plans, it lets you display dimensions, leverage grouped product packs to furnish rooms quickly, and spruce up exterior spaces.

The 3D interior design visualizations you create with Cedreo will leave your clients in awe. You can make multiple 3D renders from various perspectives, each with a different sun orientation for authentic lighting and shadows.

12. Live Home 3D

Live Home 3D is another home design software for creating detail-rich 2D floor plans, elevations, and 3D renders.

It offers an extensive library of 2,000+ 3D objects and 2,100+ materials you can customize, but you can also create yours from scratch. Additionally, you can customize roofs, add plants, and spruce up rooms with Scandinavian-style furniture.

The best features of Live Home 3D are video walkthroughs, 360-degree videos and panoramas, and stereo 3D videos. The split-screen mode lets you view 2D and 3D assets side by side, and you can play with daylight features that use geopositioning to simulate lighting.

Like Chief Architect, Live Home 3D offers monthly subscription plans and a lifetime license. You can also use the standard version, but its limitations would restrict your work. For instance, you can’t export 3D models, and your exported images and videos will have watermarks.

13. HomeByMe

HomeByMe is advanced 3D interior design software for creating stunning, photorealistic 3D renders. You can make HD, 4K, and 360-degree images, leaving clients speechless with high-quality VR tours.

You can import and create 2D floor plans, furnish 3D models with 20,000+ products from 300+ brands, and create shopping lists with measurements and prices. You can personalize all furniture, decor, objects, and surfaces, adding mezzanine floors or sloped walls and designing custom pieces.

Experiment with the sun’s position and inclination for authentic lighting, group objects, and share your 3D renders with clients and other stakeholders.

Want to make changes to 3D models during client meetings? HomeByMe supports real-time modifications to save time while ensuring everyone stays on the same page. Its AR mobile app is also perfect for on-the-go and offline access and editing.

Conclusion

3D interior design software can streamline your work and help you consistently deliver outstanding projects. However, some solutions will suit your needs better than others.

You can’t go wrong with any of the tools above, but they seem identical at first glance because they share most features. We recommend basing your decision on their interfaces, pricing, and unique functionalities ideal for your needs.

Leverage their free trials and check user experiences to choose wisely and take your interior designs to the next level.