Best Furniture Design Software of 2021

Why We Chose It: SketchUp’s ease of use, range of affordable pricing plans, and capability to provide value in a wide variety of projects make it a top choice for beginners and experts alike, making it our top choice.

SketchUp has been building its reputation as top design software for nearly two decades, offering the opportunity to efficiently plan and visualize small- and large-scale three-dimensional projects to amateurs and professionals alike. Reviewers praise the app’s ease of use, especially for users who are approaching design for the first time—even if its structure and workflow may be a little different from its competitors. 

In Sketchup’s most basic (and free) version, users can run the company’s core modeler through their web browsers, eliminating the need to download any external software or share credit card details to start creating a new design. Free users also receive 10GB of cloud storage, access to a wealth of free 3D models, and the ability to preview designs on their mobile devices.

Still, if you upgrade to SketchUp Shop for about $120 per year, you’ll cash in on unlimited cloud storage and other perks, like the ability to upload your own custom photos and textures to better visualize your work. The second paid tier, SketchUp Pro for about $299 per year, offers a desktop app for easier use. Industrious users can pay nearly $700 per year for the software’s most advanced offering, SketchUp Studio. 

To ask questions about using the platform, you can contact customer support by filling out a ticket online, but for faster results, many common questions can be answered in the app’s robust and active community forum. The software is known for being user-friendly: It’s certainly an easy application to pick up quickly, and a perfect opportunity to expose a curious beginner to online design. Some aspects of the app, such as its toolbars and menus, are customizable, enabling users to add or delete commands depending on how often they’re in use. 

This tool is best for users who are looking to DIY their own three-dimensional project as well as professionals who are looking to streamline their design workflow. Consider Sketchup for furniture design, developing and visualizing a floor plan, or sketching a larger three-dimensional project.