“I cannot express how much I am LOVING NEO! The learning curve literally feels like ZERO as I created a beautiful kitchen design in only a few short hours of signing up for their free trial. This would have taken me weeks in any other software program that requires a lot of skill, training, money and time.”  – Laytricia Towery, Interior Designer, 918 Design Co.

2. Homestyler

Homestyler is a free online 3D home designing software which is very simple to learn, and therefore immensely popular among people who are not professionals but are trying their hands on designing their perfect space. Creating the layout of the kitchen is extremely easy.

All you have to do is drag and drop the available shapes and add on extra shapes to expand the kitchen. While Homestyler can be used to design any room in the house, it does have a kitchen cabinet design tool that lets you install specific kitchen wares like cabinets, peninsulas, countertops, sinks, microwave ovens, fridges, and other appliances.

Pros: 

The software allows you to create your home project and share your ideas with friends, family, and even interior design professionals.
It showcases furniture from your favorite furniture stores like Ikea, Target, etc.
  It has a mobile version that lets you view, complete, and access your work on the go.

Cons: 

Lacks an exhaustive feature set to design a full kitchen.
Not for serious or professional designers.
More for e-commerce workflows rather than designing.
Time-taking and requires a lot of patience as you have to learn the functions of the program.

Read also – 28 Best Outdoor Kitchen Ideas

3. Ikea 3D Kitchen Planner

This is the best free kitchen design planner if you are planning to get all your furniture from Ikea. Nevertheless, if you decide Ikea is not your choice for everything, you can still find similar items from other brands and design the kitchen you always dreamed of. The layout arena offered by the software is pretty neat and doesn’t require any architectural expertise.

You can simply mention the dimensions of your kitchen and the planner will take care of scoping out and building the best kitchen layout ideas for your space. Also, from the side menu, you can select the cabinets, appliances, and other kitchen-specific items, which are Ikea products in this case, and voila! Your dream kitchen is designed in no time.

Pros: 

It is easy to use and gives you an idea of how your kitchen would look before you begin purchases.
It ensures that you do not go beyond your budget by providing you with the prices of items as you design.
It allows you to choose the size and shape of your kitchen, while you also rearrange items.

Cons: 

Quite basic, not recommended for professional designers.
Suitable only if you’re looking to design your whole kitchen with Ikea products.

Read also – 20 Common Kitchen Design Mistakes To Avoid

4. Lowe’s Virtual Kitchen Designer

Lowe’s Virtual Kitchen Designer tool is very simple in its UI and offers a ton of innovative decor ideas to make your kitchen stunning and desirable. You can zoom in to look at each of the items in the kitchen to be assured of the detailing you can expect from the final kitchen design.

Moreover, the software permits you to take a 3D render of your kitchen with a delightful choice of cabinetry. It houses a vast selection of tones, styles, and formats to help you design the kitchen that you always wanted.

Pros: 

Customization options such as cooking appliances, colors, and materials for the floor, walls, and ceiling are available to get the exact style you want.
It generates a list of items that you can use to purchase the necessary materials to bring your design to life.
It’s a specific kitchen design software, so you won’t need to scan through furniture and appliances belonging to other rooms. 

Cons: 

Clunky to use, steep learning curve.
Very slow to load.

5. Online Backsplash Designer

This is one of the best free versions of the kitchen design software you will find to help you design a backsplash and match cabinets. It is a great kitchen remodel design tool to check backsplash designs against the colors of the cabinet and the countertop with home remodeling and renovation ideas. The graphics aren’t great but they’re not terrible either for free software. It is a great platform to help you design the intricate details on the wall and make your kitchen aesthetic as well as organized.

Pros: 

Let’s you choose from hundreds of colors, designs, and pattern combinations so you can visualize how your cabinets will look with your new countertops and backsplash, and properly pair the items.
The items included are from reputable brands that are easily available for purchase, eliminating sourcing time and hassles.

Cons: 

The graphics are not as crisp and realistic as premium software providers.
Very limited to backsplashes over other features and kitchen requirements.

Read also – 20 Best Kitchen Backsplash Ideas

6. Prodboard Online Kitchen Planner

Prodboard’s 3D renderings are not very crisp but it offers many options in cabinet designs and appliances in a side menu. The software is great for those who do not have a high-resolution graphics card on their system and just want to do an entry-level task for personal-level designing. There is also a licensed version for businesses but at an individual level, it’s free of cost. 

Pros: 

Has tips and tricks for new users.
Calculate the costs, base prices, and all product prices.

Cons: 

Not suitable for professional designers.
Generic materials and color options.
No renderings are available.

Read also – Best Small Kitchen Design Ideas to Maximize Your Kitchen Layout

7. Home Hardware Kitchen Design Software

This is another great software specific to kitchen design. You can either start working on it from scratch or use one of the amazing templates they have to offer. This is a dedicated kitchen planner so the options offered are endless. Also, it feels like it has been made specifically to make your design process easy.

It also offers hardware that you can get from them and integrate into the initial design, as well as templates to work with and draw inspiration from to create an elegant kitchen design. It is a great tool to enhance the planning, shopping, and transformation experience of your kitchen.

Pros: 

It is a fully interactive 3D web visualization tool.
It is available online, which means you do not need to download any additional software for it.
You are allowed to generate a shopping list of the items you would love to buy from the store, through the program.
This program includes some things you may forget like switches, outlets, vents, etc, and show how they are placed in the room.

Cons: 

Not available on mobile or portable devices.
Has a steep learning curve, so not for all.

Read also – Why Do Professional Interior Designers Need Home Decor Design Software?

8. Planner 5D

Planner 5D is an extremely user-friendly and simple-to-use home design tool, which allows you to make 3D floor plans and designs without requiring any special training or professional skills.

The plus point of the product lies in a blend of the inconceivable basic interface and incredible innovations (AI, AR, VR, and so on). Planner 5D helps clients with purchasing a new home, moving, redesigning, changing the interior design, picking furniture, and beautifying!

Pros: 

Has an ideas library with pre-made templates and ideas to get your design started.
Provides you with over 3,000 elements which you can choose from to design your 3D depictions.
Allows you to customize your floor plans, and appliances such as your range hood, furniture, walls, etc..
Has a snapshot function that has realistic lighting, textures, and shadows. 

Cons:

Portable and lacking depth of functionalities – so suitable only for non-professionals, those more comfortable using the motions of a smartphone than a desktop screen.
You have to pay for premium features and extra options.

Read also – 8 Kitchen Island Renovation Ideas

9. Roomstyler

Roomstyler is another efficient and easy online 3D design software with a robust kitchen design module. Like many other platforms, here you can start with the format/blueprint and afterward include the individual design components in your plan.

With Roomstyler, you essentially pick the kitchen module with which you can finish the plan in line with your aesthetics and design ideas. Curiously, Roomstyler is one of the first software to offer cookware, utensils, china, different dishes, little kitchen appliances, and so on. So you can truly plan your kitchen to the very last detail here.

Pros: 

Easy to use and purchase furniture items and accessories.
Presents over 12,000 branded furniture and décor articles for you to choose from.
Straightforward to use and the shortcuts offered allow you to navigate effortlessly around the application.
Allows you to make complete customizations of almost everything you can think of in your kitchen. 

Cons: 

The sea of options can overwhelm you and leave you confused.
Time-taking to design on it.

Read also – 20 Best Kitchen Wall Decor Ideas to Design Your Kitchen Wall

10. HGTV Kitchen Design Software

HGTV Kitchen design software is a bit more technical. So requires a little prior experience in designing. It is great for smaller projects as well as complete kitchen rehauls or renovations. You can start by importing current pictures of your kitchen or sketching the space out – and you will be able to see the entire thing without spending a cent.

After that, you will be able to customize materials on walls, counters, cabinets, etc. Once everything is customized you will be able to create realistic 3D renderings to decide if that is what you would like your kitchen to look like. This program can be found at HGTV Home. It also has a 90-day money-back guarantee on the purchase price.

Pros:

Quality of 3D renderings

Custom materials

Drag and drop interface

Cons:

Steep learning curve

11. Punch Software

Punch! can be used to create and design indoor living spaces with a versatile set of tools to plan, design, and visualize the desired space. This program has some new features including high-quality rendering for 2D geometry and text, custom drawing styles, the ability to import and export from AUTOCAD 2018, custom rich text options, and a modified toolbar.

This software requires 1GB of RAM and 3GB of hard disk space. Internet service is required to use the program as well. You can sign up for the paid version for $99.99.

Pros:

Vast media library

Impressive 2D and 3D visualizations

Cons:

Costly

12. SmartDraw Design Software

Most design software programs have a habit of waxing and waning with time; SmartDraw, however, has steadily improved over time. It is of course more than just kitchen design software; the tool can create over 70 types of different flowcharts, graphs, visuals, and schematics. It is a paid software that offers a free demo.

The program can be used to design a kitchen tailored to your needs because it offers customization templates with a wide array of objects such as cabinetry, fixtures, countertops, and decor to get the look you want.

There is also an import image feature if you want to bring in materials or objects of your own to use for your design. It has a clean and precise interface and is not cluttered with ads to buy kitchen products. While there is a free trial version, the SmartDraw kitchen planner comes at $297. 

Pros:

Free demo offered

Full feature stack

Cons:

Expensive

13. Room Sketcher

Room Sketcher is another online software worth considering that allows you to create your own kitchen layouts and floor plans with efficiency and ease. You can create your plans using different finishes, textures, and furniture and then see them in a 2D or 3D view.

In 3D view, you can view the room in 360 degrees to get a feel for exactly how it will look. When you are finished you can also create high-quality 3D photos of your design to save and share your ideas with others. 

Pros:

Free for minimal functionality

360-degree view of 2D and 3D floor plans

Cons:

Ongoing yearly fee

Need to keep buying credits to use more features

14. SketchUp

SketchUp is a powerful design tool that allows you to create your kitchen designs from scratch. The software only works on a web browser but is robust and versatile. It is relatively easy to learn and peer support is available if you need more guidance or ideas when designing your dream space. 

By simply visiting the software’s 3D warehouse, you will find numerous kitchen designs from fellow users that you can manipulate by adding or removing elements to create a customized space of your own. Although SketchUp offers its basic kitchen design software for free, the paid PRO version that costs $65 offers much more.

Pros:

One of the leading programs; tried & tested

Cons:

Expensive to upgrade for full features

Difficult to learn to use

Subpar rendering quality

15. 2020 Kitchen Design

2020 is one of the most advanced rendering and kitchen design programs on this list. However, that doesn’t mean it is difficult to use. It utilizes the same drag-and-drop mechanisms as most interior design software but has the capability of producing visualizations with incredible detail. The renderings recreate true-to-life conditions and stack up next to some of the best 3D modeling and design software on the market.

Pros:

Photorealistic quality of renders

Simple to use 

Cons:

Archaic interface

Read also – Top 5 DIY Interior Design Software to Design Your Next Design Project

What Software Do Professional Kitchen Designers Use?

The interior designing industry, like any other, has become hype-competitive. There are thousands of interior designers vying for projects, and professionals need to get a competitive edge in such an environment.

Artem Kropovinsky, founder and principal designer at Arsight says, “Find software that combines reality texture with graphics. In addition, sketches help familiarize with plans and make a client imagine a space better.”

 

To surpass cut-throat competition, you need a tool that accelerates your design process while making your client interact with your design on multiple levels. The only tool that does that for an affordable price while giving you a bunch of features is Foyr Neo.

Tool features important to an interior designer	Foyr Neo
Advanced features such as auto-docking of pre-modeled designs
Fast drag-and-drop interface
Conceptualize and customize beautiful kitchen interiors in a fraction of the time
Accurate dimensions
Lightning-fast rendering speed
Photorealistic renders of unique kitchen interiors

 

While a few kitchen designers still work with software such as AutoCAD, 3Ds Max, and others, the speed and performance of FOYR NEO is an exciting proposition that they cannot deny.

Conclusion

A kitchen is an integral part of every household, and it is the common thread that connects every individual living in a house. Naturally, you would want to create kitchen designs that uphold the sacredness of this part of the house. 

At Foyr, we constantly work on improvements and new features to get you closer to that dream kitchen interior. Whether you are a seasoned designer working on the next big project or an excited homeowner looking to design the kitchen of your dreams, with Foyr Neo, you can create incredible designs with just a few clicks. Sign up for a 14-day free trial and kickstart your kitchen designs today.

Before we talk about the elements of Feng Shui and how you can manipulate it, let us first understand what it really is.

Feng Shui literally translates to ‘wind and water.’ The Chinese practice of manipulating the life force is embedded in controlling ‘chi’ which is the flow of energy. Feng Shui focuses on the two primary energy forces of wind and water to affect the areas of your life.

Simply put, wind and water have the capacity to flow in free-form. The elements of Feng Shui are arranged such that these natural elements flow through the living space of the household. The good energy that is emitted due to the use of Feng Shui, affects the temperament, vitality, and overall well-being of the inhabitants.

In a way, Feng Shui closely mimics the components of Yin and Yang. It helps balance the flow of good and bad energies.

The pith of these nurturing components is chi, or life constraint. Wind and water are immediate transporters of chi, as their streaming quality mirrors their fundamental nature. All living creatures are to a great extent made out of these two components. Along these lines, Feng Shui is the speciality of planning conditions in amicability with the stream of chi through one’s living area design, and this stream backings and upgrades one’s close to home chi or life drive.

The Chinese practices of Feng Shui have been traced back to 960 B.C. The pseudoscientific philosophy has immensely impacted the historical evolution of the provinces in China. These Feng Shui tips have been passed on through generations to maintain harmony between man and nature.

Given how long people have used the advice of Feng Shui experts and the incredible progress of lifestyle in China, it is safe to assume that Feng Shui indeed has a tremendous impact on human life forms. Thus you must try to infuse Feng Shui energy into your home in the right way, to improve the energy map of the house.

The basics principles of Feng Shui are drilled into the use of ‘chi’ also referred to as ‘qi’ or ‘ki’. This form of energy flow mostly uses earth tones and pieces of earth elements to introduce the forces of nature in its free-form. The concepts of Feng Shui targets the environment along with the fluidity of wind and water to dominate over the negative energy inside the house and vanquishing it all together.

Most Feng Shui interior design plans use wind chimes, houseplants, and indoor water bodies to manipulate the energy forces. Decluttering the living space and placing these small pieces of natural elements in commanding positions, can help free the good energy inside the house.

Feng Shui also uses open floor plans to allow tins of natural light into the household. Light has a positive impact on daily life. In ancient times, they used Bagua maps to measure the different phases of the life force. They used these grid charts to check the flow of energy and the impact of natural light, the water element, earth element, and wind element throughout the living space.

The Form School focuses on the three major natural elements that influence the basic principles of Feng Shui. The Compass School however focuses on the eight cardinal directions that indicate a symbiosis between Earth and Heaven. Interior designers following either of these Feng Shui schools can combine the earth elements with those of life force for harmonious living.

The design principles of Feng Shui has since evolved to accommodate the modern lifestyle with contemporary interior design. However, the basic principles of Feng Shui are still used in critical locations such as in the home office and living room where people spend the most time. It is also used near the front door where guests are greeted, to clean their aura and welcome them into an atmosphere filled with positive energy.

Image credits: akamas.cz

Energy centers or guas are used to determine where to place objects that represent energy elements. The Bagua is thus a grid-shaped chart that maps the various phases of one’s life.

The Compass School is another principle based on the eight cardinal directions. It uses the Luo Pan, a disc marked with formulas in concentric rings around a compass signifying the union of earth and heaven.

Image credits: pinterest.fr

• Aside from the basic principles of Feng Shui in interior design, there are general practices that are followed around the Chinese household to incorporate the effects of good energy. These practices mostly focus on clean living which promotes positivity in the living spaces.

  1. Decluttering

  According to the concepts of Feng Shui, clutter brings forth negative energy into the household. Not only does it look unappealing, but clutter can be hazardous to the health of the inhabitants. It is important to remove all unnecessary objects. They may be things that do not serve a purpose or incomplete design plans.

  Anything that doesn’t fit into the natural flow of the living space, must be removed so the positive energy can flow freely through the house.

  2.Removing the shoes

  Chinese philosophers believed that one must always remove all the negative energy forces at the door when they enter the house. This is why, in order to maintain good Feng Shui, you must remove your shoes before you enter the household.

  3. Playing with colors

  Color psychology not only affects a person’s mood, but also the overall energy forces in the house. Feng Shui experts suggest using the combination of three natural colors to instigate serenity and positive energy indoors. It is best to use light shades of lavender, blue, green, and peach for their calming effects. Although white has positive effects on the mind, it is best to use it sparingly as it emits a cold atmosphere.

  4. Incorporating the sounds of Feng Shui

  There are different elements of sound that invoke positive energy into the atmosphere. The elements of Feng Shui are combined with these metal elements or earth elements for positive sound effects. You can place wind chimes at the front door or in open spaces for serene sounds. You can also use Tibetan singing bowls or large bells around the living space where the wind elements can interact with the other elements of the environment to create a positive effect.

  5. Introducing natural elements

  It is important that a house receives abundant natural light in all its corners. Dark and desolate spaces breed negativity. This is why the basic principles of Feng Shui recommend introducing natural light and cross-ventilation. It also suggests using house plants and bamboo, to further instill the elements of nature so the flow of energy remains uninterrupted.

  6. Using Feng Shui enhancers

  In today’s evolved stage of life, every individual has objects that they hold dear. Feng Shui experts recommend placing these objects in appropriate Bagua zones. This makes the inhabitants of the household feel more comfortable and serene, thereby improving the positive energy around the household.

Image credits: pinterest.com.au

1. Overall arrangement of the house

Feng Shui employs the principles of engineering, interior design, and astronomy to create a positive impact in the household, without catering to superstitions.

It is pivotal that the house is designed with either symmetrical or asymmetrical balance. It should have a well-designed exterior that facilitates the growth of natural elements, without hindering the environment. Feng Shui stresses cultivating as many natural energy forces as possible to maintain the balance of Yin and Yang in a household.

2. Arrangements in the rooms

In order to create positive energy in the arrangements of the rooms, it is best to remove all slanting structures. Slants tend to attract utter mayhem as per the principles of ‘chi’ and Feng Shui. This is not due to any superstitious belief, rather the hazard posed by slanting structures.

If it is impossible to remove these negatively-impacting structures around the house, Feng Shui experts suggest using Bagua reflects in the exteriors of the house to keep out the negative flow of energy.

3. Position of the House

Feng Shui experts suggest that a house should not be placed near graveyards, landfills, or garbage dumps. These locations breed negative energy which is harmful to the inhabitants.

According to the basic principles of Feng Shui, it is best if the house is located on a clear path, with adequate distance from the street. Garages and should be created without penetrating the perimeter of the house, to keep away the negativity from outside.

The positioning of the house plays a major role in balancing the negative and positive energy within the household.

Image credits: enolivier.com

1. The front entrance

The entrance to the house is believed to be the gateway for Feng Shui energy. Whether you have a foyer or just a doorway, the front entrance should always be clean and well maintained.

Start by decluttering the space and replace any blown lights or dead plants. Oil the door and ensure that it is clean and soundless. Keep the entryway clear. There should be no blocking furniture or stairways that prevent the ‘chi’ from flowing freely into the house.

2. The kitchen

The kitchen should be located afar from the front entrance and it shouldn’t face any room. Keep the kitchen clean and fresh to improve the positive energy around it. Try not to place any stoves or broilers in the North-West side as it is believed to disrupt the ‘chi’ in the house.

3. The bathrooms

Mirrors are believed to disrupt negative energy. You can strategically place a mirror in the washroom to maintain the flow of energy forces.

Always keep the lid closed on the toilet when it is not in use. As we have said before Feng Shui is focused on clean living. Therefore, to keep the bathroom clean and hygienic, you must control the contamination. Closing the lid helps contain any germs that might exist.

Feng Shui also suggests that you keep the bathroom door closed at all times. Aside from being in poor taste, it is also highly unhealthy. Make sure to install a working lock or latch so the door remains closed.

4. The Rooms

In the bedroom, it is best not to place the bed in front of a door or window. Try to place it in the center where it doesn’t face any of the exteriors directly. This also applies to the living room where the seating area should not face any door or window directly. You can use crystal balls in the center of the room to absorb any negative energy and propel the positive energy forces into the room.

5. The stairs

When it comes to stairways, Feng Shui experts advise not to have winding staircases in the house. They also advise that no room should open onto a staircase. It is pivotal to have a proper landing area in order to avoid any accidental hazards.

The looming danger of toppling down the stairs creates constant negative energy. Therefore, it is best to design stairways in unrestricted, open areas where the imminent threat is visible and can be easily avoided.

6. The windows and doorways

Windows and doors are the inlet and outlet for all energy forces Therefore they should not be constricted with furniture or clutter. Keep the window frames and glasses clean. Maintain that the doors are properly hinged and oiled. There should be no dirt or dust on these surfaces as it hinders the flow of positive energy.

Feng Shui is a delicate art of balancing ying and yang to maintain the ‘chi’ in the household. You can use customized design plans or follow the teachings of the Form school or compass school to introduce positive energy forces in your home. We hope you find the Feng Shui tips in this article useful to eliminate all negativity and fill your home with positive energy.

Each stage of the interior design process will be made easier and more efficient if you have the correct business tools. Foyr Neo is a powerful interior design platform designed specifically for you, the designer. With a set of powerful tools, you can go from idea to photo-realistic rendering in minutes, including:

• The option to select from thousands of pre-loaded objects such as furniture, plants, accessories, and more—or upload your own 3D models to produce the precise design your clients desire.
• On-demand production of 4K photo-realistic renderings.
• Advanced lighting and visualisation options are available.
• Capabilities to do real-time 3D editing.

We enable designers to spend less time with software and more time with their clients by merging the capabilities of various tools into one platform. Foyr Neo is now available for a 14-day free trial, allowing you to explore the potential of infinite creation.