Room design can be tricky even for a seasoned interior decorator like myself. I find that the key to success with pretty much every space is tailoring your room design ideas to the personality of the client and, above all, listening to their requests and looking at them from a creative angle. Sometimes people do not know what they want until they actually see it in their home. The challenge is interpreting the client's want list but infusing your own personal twist on those designs. I like to used design software like this because it allows me to show the homeowners a virtual tour of their new home interior in order to gauge what they like and dislike. This results in a happier client in less time and with less money spent.

My husband and I are in the process of building our new home and we have been struggling with how to decorate it. A friend suggested using a room design program that lets you input the floor plan of any room and then decorate it how you want. This was such a great idea because we can get a feel for what the space will look like with different types of decor. The room layout app we got lets us build our whole house online and then design each space, including floor type, wall pain, furniture and decor. Not only is it very helpful for me and my indecisive husband, but it's also fun to use. What's really great about this room planner is that it gives you different views of your space, such as if you were standing in the room and from above. This lets you figure out the best layout for furniture and stuff. We have been having such a fun time planning with this program and we have finally decided on a final layout for our home, including decor.

One of my favorite aspects of room design is the ability to play with color and artwork in order create a space that is a true reflection of your personality. I tend to lean on the more funky and "out there" stylings so interior design software has become my best friend as it allows me to visualize my crazy ideas before I actually spend the money or time to bring them to life. Sometimes I come up with layouts that simply do not work for the space, while others my dream of a kitchen with red cabinetry actually looks really cool. If you are anything like me, I would definitely recommend taking a second to download a room design app to just play around with. You don't have to ultimately use it but I always find them to be such a huge asset.

Anytime that friends or family ask me for help with a room design project, the first thing that I do is tell them to download an app or software program that will help them through the process. You can basically design a room online free with the dozens of apps that are available to download to your phone or computer and, in all reality, take very limited technical skills to learn. As you can see from my latest room design project pictured here, my signature style is eclectic contemporary so I especially like to plan out a space to see what it will look like before I commit to a look. Sometimes my crazy ideas work and sometimes the virtual room designer shows me that I would be better off with a different shade on the wall or light fixture over the dining room table (like in this particular plan).

One of the most nerve wracking and challenging aspects of room design is wondering if the ideas that you think are so fantastic in your head will actually translate well in your space. The best tool that I have found to combat that dilemma is 3d room design software that you can download for free from any App Store and tons of websites. These programs are all basically the same in that they allow you to play around with different layouts, color palettes, furniture styles, and furnishings in a virtual rendering of your space (customized down to the room dimensions and baseboard height). A bedroom designer like what we used here will generate a 3d photo of exactly what your space will look like from all angles before you make any purchases or start renovating the room.

I think that home renovation software is such an important asset in any DIY homeowner's or interior decorator's repertoire, especially when you are thinking about putting more unique and eclectic room design ideas in a home. Whether you are embarking on the journey to design your own house or you are trying to come up with a plan for a challenging layout or unique architectural style, these programs can be a lifesaver because they allow you to play around with ideas before committing to the price or installation time. I had this vision to create a simplistic contemporary bathroom with ocean blue glass tiles on every surface. I imputed these preferences into my home planner app and voila it showed me a photo of what my space would look like.