5 Best Free Exterior Home Design Apps: Create your dream home exterior with these free apps

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Introduction

Designing your home's exterior can be an exciting yet challenging task. Thankfully, modern technology provides excellent free tools to visualize your dream exterior before initiating costly renovations. According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS, 2023), nearly 70% of homeowners see significant benefits from digital visualization in renovation projects. This article highlights the five best free exterior home design apps, helping you make informed decisions and bring your vision to life.

1. Home Design 3D Outdoor & Garden

Home Design 3D Outdoor & Garden  offers intuitive tools for creating detailed 2D and 3D home exterior designs. It allows customization of siding colors, landscaping options, and garden layouts, making it ideal for homeowners aiming for a comprehensive exterior makeover.

Real-life user case: Interior designer and blogger Emily Henderson successfully utilized Home Design 3D Outdoor & Garden to visualize her backyard renovation, significantly reducing planning errors and expenses .

2. Houzz

Houzz is highly recommended for gathering inspiration and design ideas. The platform hosts thousands of professional exterior design photos and features tools to save and organize your favorite styles. This makes it perfect for homeowners seeking inspiration and planning assistance.

Expert recommendation: Chip and Joanna Gaines, founders of Magnolia and renowned for their design expertise, frequently recommend Houzz for its extensive and diverse design inspiration .

3. Homestyler

Homestyler enables users to upload photos of their existing home exterior and apply realistic modifications using advanced 3D design tools. It provides extensive customization options for experimenting with colors, materials, and architectural details, allowing precise visualization of potential changes.

Industry insight: According to Architectural Digest, Homestyler is among the best apps for realistically visualizing home renovations, offering homeowners precise previews before starting physical work.

4. Planner 5D

Planner 5D is a comprehensive app that facilitates the creation of accurate 3D exterior models. Users can experiment with various materials, landscaping elements, and architectural styles, making it suitable for homeowners who enjoy detailed customization and exploration of different design concepts.

Practical use case: A Planner 5D user case study featured on Houzz highlighted how accurate digital models significantly improved homeowner confidence and satisfaction during exterior remodeling (source).

5. Coohom

Coohom is recognized as one of the most powerful exterior design platforms, offering detailed 3D modeling tools for both exterior and interior spaces. Its extensive library includes real furniture, fixtures, and landscaping options, providing realistic visualization and customization capabilities ideal for professional-grade design projects.

Expert endorsement: Jonathan Adler, a prominent American interior designer, highlights Coohom's realistic visualization capabilities as critical to successful design projects (source).

Practical Tips for Using Exterior Design Apps

• Always measure your home's exterior accurately to ensure realistic visualizations.
• Experiment with various materials and colors to find the best combination for your home's style.
• Consider natural lighting and surroundings in your designs for enhanced realism.

Common Mistakes and Solutions

• Mistake: Ignoring the impact of natural lighting on color choices.
• Solution: Test various materials under different lighting conditions within the apps to avoid color misrepresentation.
• Mistake: Inaccurate measurements leading to unrealistic visualizations.
• Solution: Use precise measurement tools or professional services for accurate digital modeling.

Expert Insight

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB, 2023) emphasizes that digitally visualizing exterior changes prior to implementation significantly reduces renovation costs and enhances homeowner satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are these exterior design apps entirely free?

A: Yes, all apps listed offer free features adequate for most residential design projects, though premium features may be available at additional cost.

Q: Can I use these apps without prior design experience?

A: Absolutely. These apps are designed with user-friendly interfaces suitable for beginners and professionals alike.

Q: How realistic are the visualizations provided by these apps?

A: Apps like Coohom and Homestyler provide highly realistic renderings, closely reflecting how your home will look after renovation.

Conclusion

Utilizing free exterior home design apps simplifies the planning process, allowing homeowners to visualize and refine their exterior designs effectively. Explore these powerful tools—Home Design 3D Outdoor & Garden, Houzz, Homestyler, Planner 5D, and Coohom—to confidently create your dream home exterior.