Carly Quellman, aka Carly Que, is a multimedia strategist and storyteller at the intersection of technology and the humanities, investigating how perspective can enhance, rather than overstimulate, the world. She can be found online and near the closest south-facing window in Los Angeles.
I recently moved into a new spot and the layout is... funky. It's to the point where I can't understand how design decisions were made in that order. (Maybe that's the point -- there was no order.)
I needed help with understanding layouts and reading a floor plan. I'm a big fan of the intersection between virtual and augmented reality with artificial intelligence, which led me to Planner 5D -- a home design platform that lets you create 2D and 3D floor plans, visualize interiors and experiment with different layouts and decor styles. And after my weird experience with Renovate AI, I was open to other options.
Headquartered in Lithuania, Planner 5D was founded in 2011 by Alexey Sheremetyev and Sergey Nosyrev. The company has spent over a decade evolving from a home improvement tool to a platform used by professional designers.
By making its product available on the web, iOS and Android, the company is on a mission to simplify the home renovation process for everyone -- and virtual reality and AI makes this mission smoother and faster, whether you have design chops or not.
With a new space and an odd layout, I figured my home could be a great starting point to understand the design process and to visualize my layout before I committed to anything.
Planner 5D is pretty accessible thanks to its friendly user interface and design layout. However, you'll need to trial one of their paid subscription plans ($5-$34/month) to use the AI features. Here's how:
You can also download the floor plan as a PNG, JPG or PDF file. And, if you have the Designer Pro subscription, you can collaborate on a project with others and give them editing access, similar to Canva and Google Docs.
To get the most out of Planner 5D, it's important to understand your needs. If working in layouts, begin with something basic before adding details. Saving your data along the way is smart because of the robust nature of the technology.
And if you need more support, take a look at Planner 5D's tutorials and education modules. It's a great way to further your learning and implementation process -- and to speed it up in the long run.
Planner 5D integrates both virtual reality and AI-powered tools to create a design. This intersectionality makes its product more accessible, including for homeowners, aspiring homeowners, real estate professionals and hobbyists.
Planner 5D's competitors include Floorplanner and Houzz Pro, both of which contain assets for those in the construction and design space. But since I'm not in the homebuying market or in architecture, I can't tell you whether this is a great tool solely for inspiration, or if it can actually provide clarity and functionality for the home designing and purchasing process.
While interior designers use Planner 5D, it seems more suited for a hobbyist than a professional. But while you can access the website on Planner 5D's free version, you can't access any of the AI-powered features without a subscription ($5-$34/month), which unlocks its full catalog, access to renderings and custom branded work.
Not every product is for everyone, but with three suggestions listed, there's bound to be an option that works for you and your needs. Like anything else, it takes trial and error.
