Easy CAD / layout software - Any recommendations?

Question

Hello BP community,

I'm looking to find basic house design / layout software. I'm currently looking to layout kitchen cabs & wanted something a little more than just doing it on paper. I'm looking for something that does basic layout - plans & elevations - just basic stuff I can hand to a contractor. I don't need to move through the plan in 3D, I don't need lifelike renderings. Simple is much preferred.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't want anything complicated like AutoCAD or SketchUp. But I also don't want some toy software for rough designing w/o accurate dimensions, etc.

Jim Adrian · Answer

@Julie Marquez

Look at the setting for saving as a pdf.  Turn up the dpi setting to like 300 dpi.  It is probably using some type of compress setting like jpg or screen resolution of 72 dpi.  You need to be above 200 dpi for a good image.

@Jay Belcher

Industry is moving toward or already into doing everything in 3d.  Its a little more work but at the same time it can solve/identify problems before construction begins.  It comes down to how much you want to spend and how much time and effort to learn a new software. I think about 5 months ago this topic came up and had some other software options.

Michael Seeker · Answer

Here's a kitchen I recently drew up for an apartment.  This was my first crack at using Visio and I already had a rough sketch of the kitchen...this took me an hour or two while also getting comfortable with the software.  I added in all the labels/measurements so this could be handed to the contractor for install.

Julie Marquez · Answer

When I went to turn it to a PDF or print it, it just became all blurry and I couldn't even read the dimensions. I didn't fiddle around with it much, but just saving it to PDF gave it such a low resolution. Though I can't say I tried really hard or looked into it, I figure I'd have to pay or something.

Jim Adrian · Answer

Sketchup is easy to learn and provides a lot of bang for its buck.  Its great for 3d views that clients like to see.  As for using it for basic 2d drafting im not so sure about it.  I haven't tried but it could be done.   As for other cheap good software programs I don't have any to offer.  I am spoiled at my day job with Revit and other Autodesk products.

Kurt F. · Answer

@Jay Belcher....  Honestly, I would not personally spend any time or money on anything mentioned above except Sketchup.

You mentioned some familiarity with it -- you might give it another look.  It's definitely not too heavy for simple plan work.  Plus, once you've downloaded the free version of SKP, get familiar with the "3D Warehouse" button.  This opens an almost unlimited library of download-able components -- it dwarfs anything mentioned above.  For example, for your current needs, you can download an endless variety of standard and custom cabinetry in all sizes.  Same with dozens of appliances, light fixtures, plumbing fixures, etc., etc., etc... all free and download-able...  they drop right into your model in 3D.

You create a model with components, then simply save out views -- plans, elevations, sections, etc.  It can be as simple or complicated as you need.

Personally, I use Revit on a daily basis for design and documents.  That said, I do use SKP a lot, and am continually, impressed with the improvements every year.

Kurt F. · Answer

https://www.homestyler.com/#

Might get you by @Jay Belcher....

Judy Lintus · Answer

Hi Jay - I've used Chief Architect's Home Designer Software for years. If you just want to do layouts for kitchens, the least expensive product they have is "Interiors" for $79 and that should work fine. The one I currently use is the "Architectural" which gives me the options I want. They have a detailed Compare Products page if you want to check it out.

Almost forgot - the software runs natively on either Windows or Mac.

Michael Seeker · Answer

Hey @Jay Belcher - I've been designing kitchens and bathrooms by hand with graph paper for years and have always gotten a great sense of satisfaction from it.  Recently my wife and I started designing a whole-house remodel and the grid paper method just wouldn't cut it.  We both researched various software options and the two we came up with are:

1. Visio (my pick) - I was able to get for $10 through my company, not sure what retail cost is.  This has tons of great built-in features including pre-packaged "patterns" for just about everything you could want to draw related to a building design.  I absolutely love it and would very highly recommend it.  PM me if you'd like an example of a kitchen remodel I've done with it.

2. SketchUp (her pick) - This software is free (30 day trial, but all basic features are free past that).  This was useful for drawing room layouts, but difficult to get details such as toilets or vanities without some extra legwork.  My wife used it to draw up a 3D model of our kitchen though.  It's not as fancy as something you'd get from a kitchen design/install company, but it was pretty cool, and pretty powerful if you take the time to learn the ins and outs.

Kurt F. · Answer

Good suggestion on the dpi, @Jim Adrian.

The nice thing about Homestyler is that it's from Autodesk -- it's still a toy, but at least it's made by an industry leader -- and you can export standard .dwg files.  For a free program, it likely solves the OP's basic needs.

More than anything else, just keep in mind that drawing images created in any homeowner-grade software will typically have limited value to a contractor.  It's better than no drawings, but good builders aren't really going to hang their hats on them.  They are diagrams for builders to take notes on -- that's about it.

Jay Belcher · Answer

For those who love SketchUp, it is a pretty nice program. It seems to be all about working in 3D and looking at a model in 2D - e.g. they way you'd give a kitchen cabinet plan to a contractor, seems almost an afterthought (though entirely possible).

@Julie Marquez what do you mean by a "detailed print out" that you had trouble with in Homestyler? I certainly don't want to learn Homestyler and then find it's too limited or be forced to go into a pay version.

At this point I'm leaning toward revisiting SketchUp or going back to Home Designer. The nice thing about a program like Home Designer for house plans is it assumes everything is house plan type work. So if you want a wall & a window, you just draw a line with the wall tool & insert a window. To do the same thing in SketchUp you draw an object, pull a face out to make it 3D, then cut a hole, then if you want mullions it's more work or you can select something from the 3D library.

Easy CAD / layout software - Any recommendations?

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