Interior Design Software Key Terms

Learn the buzz words for interior design software

Interior design software key terms will help you choose the correct software program for your needs. Interior design software can make floor plans from specialized computer software, saving you time from doing your own drawings. It can also give you the names and manufacturers of textiles, furniture, lighting and much more. And, of course, office software designed for interior designers can help you keep track of your accounts.

Floor and space planning

Specifications are made to scale. The floor and space diagram of a room or building is drawn as if seen from above. These can be in 1, 2 or 3D. Floors plans scaled to correct proportions allow interior designers to plan how best to use the space.

Computer-aided design, CAD

CAD is a high-level design program used by architects and electricians to create plans that show a building or floor from different perspectives. Interior designers working on large buildings refer to these plans in order to create a space with knowledge of where pipes, electrical wires and other essential components of a building are located.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics'  Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2008-09 discusses how interior designers take advantage of CAD. 

Virtual walk-through

Virtual walk-through software allows you to experience a room or floor as if you're actually walking through it. Virtual technology is used for all sorts of professions, including for entertainment purposes, but it is another tool for interior designers to get a feel for floor layout and see what parts of the space need to be changed for maximum functioning.
Inside Art Express explains virtual walk-through and its use in conjunction with floor plans.

Furniture placement

Interior-design software can offer furniture-placement technology, which allows you to place virtual pieces of furniture in a 3-D floor plan. Usually this software also provides tools for inserting color, textiles and so forth.
LovetoKnow has extensive information on virtual furniture placement.

Cost estimating

Cost estimating means the costs of a job - everything from design fees, materials and labor to copying costs. In fact, everything that you have to take into account for the cost of the project. It is one of the most difficult and important aspects of interior design work.
WBDG explores cost estimating. 

Management and accounting software for interior design

Management and accounting software used by interior designers usually includes elements for inventories of items like furniture, textile samples and so forth.
Design Manager offers management and accounting software for interior designers.

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