Ever wonder what tools interior designers use to bring their visions to life? Today, I’m sharing five tools that I use every day in my design process. Whether you’re working on your own home or collaborating with a designer, these tools can help streamline your project and ensure your design is as functional as it is beautiful.
1. Gathering Inspiration – Pinterest
Pinterest is the perfect place to start when gathering design inspiration. You can create boards for each room, save pins that resonate with your style, and organize them for easy reference. Whether you’re drawn to modern, traditional, or eclectic designs, Pinterest helps you visualize and refine your ideas before making any major decisions.
How It Helps: Pinterest allows you to see a wide variety of styles, materials, and layouts. It’s the perfect starting point to narrow down what you like (and don’t like) for your home.
2. Creating Technical Drawings – AutoCAD
While Pinterest is great for inspiration, the next step is technical drawings. **AutoCAD** is a tool that allows you to create precise floor plans and layouts. It’s complex, so you may need to outsource this to a professional, but having detailed drawings is crucial to ensuring everything fits and functions as intended.
How It Helps: AutoCAD ensures that your space is laid out perfectly with exact measurements and technical details that can be shared with contractors and builders.
3. Assembling a Design Booklet – Canva
Once you’ve gathered inspiration and drawn up your plans, **Canva** is a fantastic tool for assembling everything into a design booklet. You can create mood boards, style guides, and layouts that communicate your vision to contractors or other designers.
How It Helps: Canva allows you to organize all your design elements in one place, creating a clear and cohesive visual guide for your project.
4. Organizing Budgets – Google Sheets
Budgeting is one of the most important aspects of any design project. **Google Sheets** is my go-to for keeping track of all costs, from materials to labor. You can easily update it as you go, ensuring you stay on budget and avoid any surprises down the road.
How It Helps: Google Sheets keeps your project organized, helping you monitor expenses and manage costs effectively throughout the entire build or renovation process.
5. Sourcing Samples – Material Bank
When it comes to materials, seeing is believing! Material Bank is a great resource for sourcing samples online. You can order free samples of materials like tile, wood, and textiles, which is essential when choosing the right finishes for your home.
How It Helps: It’s critical to see and feel materials in person before making final decisions. Material Bank makes it easy to quickly receive and compare samples without leaving your home.
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These tools are essential to creating a seamless design process and ensuring your home turns out exactly as you envisioned. From gathering inspiration to managing budgets and sourcing materials, these resources will help keep your project on track and stress-free!
What tools have you found helpful in your design process? Comment below!
