In 3D mode they include rotating the whole room left, right, up or down switch to 2D mode and those controls pan instead. You can't move around your room using the mouse but there is a collection of navigation buttons in a toolbar immediately below the room image. The app won't let you rotate things if there isn't enough room to do so, but there's a button to temporarily override the laws of physics (Image credit: IKEA) Of course, you don't get non-IKEA items here, so if you want to mix in other elements, we suggest something like Roomstyler 3D Home Planner (opens in new tab), which is also free. Where an item has multiple options, such as a sofa that's available in a range of fabrics and colors, you can select the appropriate option at the bottom of the screen. When you add or click on an object its name, description, dimensions, price and description will appear in the right hand side. It's easiest to work in 2D for this, but you can add your items in 3D too. Click on a category and a scrollable list of thumbnails will appear at the bottom of the screen, then click on an item to add it to the room. For example, under Dining you'll find tables and chairs, stools and benches, cabinets and sideboards and appropriate lighting. Those items are organized by room in much the same way that the main IKEA website is organized: click on the room type you're working on and you'll see a selection of categories. Once you've got the basic room set up, the next step is to start adding items of furniture to it. You've got to admire an app that even lets you specify what you can see through your windows (Image credit: IKEA) The room designer also gives you models for fixtures such as plumbing and gas pipes, radiators, ventilation and electrical items, and you can switch into a 3D view at any time to see how it all looks. You can even choose what color to paint your skirting boards and add a few floor, table or hanging plants.
You can select colors for the walls and the ceiling, add doors and windows, plus even decide what you'll be able to see out of the windows – such as cityscapes at night or rural meadows.
Once you've got the basic shape of the room you can then decide how to floor it, with a choice of wood, tile, stone, granite, carpet or laminate. If you choose one of the indented shapes you can adjust the indent. Select the one you want and you can then resize it to suit. To do that, you begin in 2D view with a range of basic floor shapes. IKEA Home Planner review: Features and designīefore you can furnish your space, you'll need to create that space in the first place. Go to the IKEA home planner (opens in new tab).And, as it's browser-based, you can use it on any of the best laptops (opens in new tab) or home computers (opens in new tab). The app is extremely easy to use and it takes considerably less time to plan your room than it does to put things together from flat packs.
Those limitations are going to rule IKEA's app out for many people, but if you're an IKEA kind of person there's a great deal to like here: so much, in fact, that we've chosen it as one of the best interior design software (opens in new tab) apps 2020.