I have seen several posts with diagrams of different ways they can design their rooms, how do you get that? Is it software that I can download from somewhere?

Thank you in advance.

Most frequently I see people use google's sketchup for 3d versions of their rooms. It is free to download from google. They have a lot of good tutorials on it as well. Also, for 2d sketches I've seen a lot of Visio drawings which I think comes from Microsoft.

Mine were visio. My office PC had it pre-installed. Can be purchased cheap on e-bay.

Other option include sketchup (free), paint, I used excel for a while (make the cell height and width the same, then treat like graph paper).

Mine have all been done on sketchup. It has a very quick learning curve. Plus it's free!

Over the years I've used a program called Home Designer. It's gone through many revisions, changed owners, and changed versions and now has about a dozen different options so I can't recommend any specific version; I have the 2nd most expensive version, but you may not need that package. Although it's not freeware it will do things like:

- complete and accurate room layout, down to the 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch if you want it.

- 3D views, "glass house" views (so you can see how things in adjacent rooms line up), renders and record walk-throughs

- materials lists (# of 2x4's etc.)

I've used it to design a 1000 sq. ft. addition, a screened in porch and the revisions to our most recent house (purchased last year) so its paid itself back; two of our builders felt that the plans I did with it were as good or better than what they've gotten from professional architects (though it helps to have access to a drum plotter if you want to do serious plans).

I do have to say it's sometimes a bit buggy (though that seems to have improved over the years) and it has a bit of a learning curve so I can't really recommend it if all you want to do is a single room. It is down loadable so you can be up and running within minutes if you want.

Thank you guys!! I will try the Google Sketchup. I appreciate all the help.

Shane

One note on Sketchup: Once you've created a 3-d model, it's easy to take a 'slice' of that and turn it into a 2-d floorplan. Play around with the 'section plane' tool.

One note on Sketchup: Once you've created a 3-d model, it's easy to take a 'slice' of that and turn it into a 2-d floorplan. Play around with the 'section plane' tool.

Great, I appreciate the feedback!

One note on Sketchup: Once you've created a 3-d model, it's easy to take a 'slice' of that and turn it into a 2-d floorplan. Play around with the 'section plane' tool.

I did not know that. I'll try it when I get home from work!
Thanks