The world of interior design is rapidly shifting into the digital space, and apps are leading the way in helping people visualize and plan their dream homes. With more users seeking easy-to-use tools to design and decorate their spaces, the demand for interior design apps is skyrocketing. In fact, the global interior design software market is expected to hit $5.1 billion by 2027, growing at a steady pace of nearly 10% annually. There’s a huge opportunity for developers to jump into this space and create apps that not only make home design accessible but also fun and interactive.
When you think of successful interior design apps, Home Design 3D and Houzz come to mind. Houzz, for example, isn’t just about design; it’s a massive platform where users can find products, connect with professionals, and even get personalized recommendations. In 2022, they brought in over $600 million in revenue, largely driven by their marketplace and advertising model.
Building an app like this isn’t a walk in the park, though! From developing an engaging user interface to integrating powerful features like 3D modeling, AR technology, and collaboration tools, the costs can add up quickly.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the different factors that contribute to the cost of developing an interior design app, breaking down the key components and helping you plan your project from start to finish.
Overview of the Home Design 3D App
Home Design 3D is an interior design app that allows users to design and remodel homes in both 2D and 3D formats. Available on iOS, Android, PC, and Mac, it’s accessible to just about anyone who wants to get creative with their living space. With over 90 million users worldwide, it’s become a go-to tool for anyone looking to visualize their dream home.
Key Features:
- Floor Plan Design: Users can easily create their own floor plans, design rooms, and add dividers in both 2D and 3D views. The app even lets users customize the height and thickness of walls, plus add doors and windows wherever they need them.
- Furnishing and Decoration: The app gives users access to thousands of furniture pieces and decor items to personalize their space fully. They can change the size, color, and position and even apply custom textures to objects to make them fit their style perfectly.
- Visualization: With real-time 3D rendering, users can take a virtual “walkthrough” of their designs, giving them a feel of how everything fits together. Plus, the compass feature shows how natural light interacts with their design at different times of the day.
- Importing and Sharing: Users can import existing blueprints and share their projects easily through cloud services or email, making collaboration with others a breeze.
- Augmented Reality: For devices that support it, Home Design 3D offers augmented reality, so users can see their designs in real-life settings, making it even easier to envision how their space will look.
Key Market Takeaways for Interior Design Apps
Source: IMARCgroup
This surge is largely driven by the increasing demand for advanced visualization tools, the rise of AI-powered features, and the popularity of cloud-based solutions that make collaboration and personalization easier than ever. Plus, the growing focus on sustainability and the ongoing trend of home renovations are fueling the demand for smarter, more innovative ways to create functional and stylish living spaces.
The market for interior design apps is thriving with lots of cool new tools and partnerships, making the design process even more fun and accessible. A standout example is IKEA Kreativ, which uses AI to help users plan room layouts and select furniture from IKEA’s extensive catalog. It even lets users visualize their designs in real time, ensuring everything fits perfectly in their spaces.
Another awesome app is HomeByMe, which offers an easy way to create detailed 3D models of your space. It lets you play around with different furniture arrangements and explore your design choices through virtual tours—perfect for anyone looking to get creative and visualize their dream room.
A Perfect Time to Invest in Developing an Interior Design App
Launching an interior design app like Home Design 3D has the potential to be highly profitable, especially with the growing interest in home improvement and DIY design. With more people spending time at home and an increasing number of users turning to digital solutions for home renovations, the demand for intuitive, user-friendly design tools is surging. These apps not only cater to homeowners but also appeal to professionals like interior designers, architects, and real estate agents who require advanced features for visualization and client presentations.
Offering subscription models, in-app purchases for premium features, and even partnerships with furniture and decor brands can create multiple revenue streams for a well-designed platform.
Two notable examples that show the profitability of this sector are Houzz and Roomstyler 3D Home Planner.
Houzz, a popular platform for home renovation and design, reported over $500 million in revenue in 2020, primarily driven by advertising, its marketplace for home goods, and its Pro+ subscription service for professionals.
Moreover, Roomstyler, a free 3D design tool, has amassed over 15 million active users worldwide, generating revenue through paid premium features and partnerships with furniture brands. Roomstyler also offers a “Pro” version, which provides users with advanced design features, further expanding its revenue potential.
The success of these platforms highlights the growing demand for interior design apps, with the potential for early entrants to capture a significant portion of this expanding market as consumers increasingly rely on digital solutions to visualize and personalize their spaces.
Business Model of the Home Design 3D App
Home Design 3D is a major player in the home design software market, using a flexible and effective business model that combines a freemium approach with several revenue streams. This model helps attract a wide range of users while offering opportunities for deeper engagement with advanced features.
Business Model
Home Design 3D primarily operates on a freemium model, which means users can access basic features for free, allowing them to explore the app and get a feel for its capabilities. For those looking for more advanced tools, the app offers premium features available through one-time purchases or subscriptions.
In addition, the app also includes in-app purchases, allowing users to buy additional content or features directly within the app, further boosting its revenue potential. This approach makes Home Design 3D appealing to both casual users and professionals who need more specialized features.
Financial Performance
As of early 2025, Home Design 3D has achieved impressive financial milestones:
- Gross Revenue: Approximately $745,534 since its launch, with $219,932 in net revenue after deductions.
- User Base: The app has over 65 million users and has supported more than 300 million design projects by early 2024, showing strong user engagement and retention.
- Market Growth: The global home design software market, valued at $4.9 billion in 2022, is expected to grow annually at a rate of 7.6% through 2030, providing significant growth potential for the app.
Recent News and Partnerships
Recent developments have helped strengthen Home Design 3D’s position even further:
- In January 2025, the app announced a partnership with various interior design influencers aimed at enhancing its reach and user experience. This collaboration will integrate user-generated content into the app, making the design process more personalized and interactive.
- The app has also been featured in several lists as one of the best home design tools for 2025, praised for its user-friendly interface and extensive library of furniture and textures.
Development Steps for an Interior Design App like Home Design 3D
Developing an interior design app like Home Design 3D requires careful planning, advanced technology, and a user-friendly interface. Here are the essential steps to create a successful app for home layout visualization.
1. Market Research and Planning
Analyzing market trends, competitor apps, and user expectations helps in defining unique features. Understanding the target audience, including homeowners, interior designers, and architecture enthusiasts, is crucial.
2. Defining Core Features
Key features such as 2D and 3D design modes, a furniture catalog, real-time rendering, customization options, and sharing capabilities must be outlined. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality can enhance user experience.
3. Choosing the Right Tech Stack
Selecting technologies like Unity or Unreal Engine for 3D visualization, Swift and Kotlin for mobile development, and cloud-based databases ensures seamless app performance. WebGL can be used for browser-based versions.
4. Designing the UI and UX
A simple, intuitive UI allows users to create and customize designs with ease. Drag-and-drop functionality, interactive menus, and smooth navigation improve usability.
5. Developing the 2D and 3D Layout Engine
Implementing a robust rendering engine enables users to switch between 2D and 3D views. Accurate measurements, real-time modifications, and detailed visualization enhance the design process.
6. Integrating a Furniture and Decor Catalog
A vast collection of furniture, fixtures, and décor elements should be included. AI-driven recommendations can help users choose suitable designs based on their preferences.
7. Implementing AR and VR for Realistic Visualization
AR allows users to place furniture in real-world environments, while VR provides immersive walkthroughs of designed spaces.
8. Testing and Quality Assurance
Comprehensive testing ensures bug-free performance. Functional testing, UI/UX testing, performance testing, and compatibility checks across devices improve app stability.
9. Launching and Continuous Updates
Releasing the app on platforms like the App Store and Google Play, followed by marketing strategies, increases visibility. Regular updates with new features, bug fixes, and user-requested improvements enhance engagement.
Cost of Developing an Interior Design App like Home Design 3D
Category | Task | Estimated Cost ($) |
Research & Planning | Market Research | $500 – $1,000 |
Concept & Feature Definition | $500 – $1,000 | |
Design | UI/UX Design (Wireframes, Mockups) | $1,000 – $2,000 |
3D Modeling & Asset Creation | $1,000 – $2,000+ | |
Development | Frontend Development | $6,000 – $14,000 |
Backend Development (if needed) | $1,000 – $3,000 | |
3D Rendering Engine Integration | $1,000 – $3,000 | |
AR Development (if included) | $1,000 – $3,000 | |
Feature Development | ||
Basic Floor Plan Creation | $1,000 – $2,000 | |
Furniture Placement & Customization | $1,000 – $2,000 | |
Material & Texture Selection | $500 – $1,500 | |
3D Rendering & Visualization | $1,000 – $3,000 | |
Project Saving & Sharing | $500 – $1,500 | |
User Account Management | $500 – $1,500 | |
In-App Purchases/Monetization | $500 – $1,500 | |
Testing & Quality Assurance | Functional Testing | $1,000 – $2,000 |
Usability Testing | $500 – $1,500 | |
Performance Testing | $500 – $1,500 | |
Deployment & Launch | App Store Submission | $500 – $1,000 |
Initial Marketing & Promotion | $500 – $1,000 |
Total Estimated Cost: $10,000 – $100,000
Factors Affecting the Development Cost of an Interior Design App
Several variable factors can significantly impact the overall development cost of an interior design app like Home Design 3D. While some factors are common to most app development projects, others are unique to the specific requirements of an interior design application. Here are some key considerations:
- 3D Rendering Quality: Realistic 3D rendering is computationally intensive and requires specialized expertise, significantly impacting the cost.
- Furniture Library Size and Detail: A large, high-quality furniture library with diverse styles and customization options adds to development time and cost.
- AR/VR Integration: Integrating augmented reality or virtual reality features is complex and requires specialized skills, increasing expenses.
- Floor Plan Accuracy and Customization: Allowing users to create accurate and highly customizable floor plans with various shapes, sizes, and wall types can be technically challenging and costly.
Conclusion
Understanding the development costs of an interior design app like Home Design 3D is key for businesses, as it helps with realistic budgeting, prioritizing features, and making smarter decisions throughout the development process. By building a similar app, companies can tap into the growing demand for easy-to-use interior design tools, with opportunities to generate revenue through in-app purchases, subscriptions, ads, or partnerships with furniture retailers. A well-designed app can boost brand visibility, increase customer engagement, and open up new revenue streams—helping businesses grow and stand out in the competitive interior design tech market.
Looking to Develop an Interior Design App like Home Design 3D?’
At Idea Usher, we specialize in building innovative mobile apps, and we’re excited to help bring your vision for an interior design app, like Home Design 3D, to life. With over 500,000 hours of coding experience, we have the technical know-how and creative expertise to create a user-friendly, feature-packed app that lets users design their dream spaces. From 2D/3D floor planning and furniture placement to AR/VR features and photorealistic rendering, we can craft an app that really stands out. Let’s partner up and build the next big thing in interior design together!
FAQs
Q1. How to develop an interior design app?
A1: To develop an interior design app, you’ll need to focus on creating a visually appealing, user-friendly interface. The core functionality could include features like 3D visualization, AR (Augmented Reality) for furniture placement, and design tools for customizing rooms. You’ll also need a solid backend to store user designs, integrate with third-party suppliers for products, and potentially offer collaboration features. Choose a tech stack for both iOS and Android or consider cross-platform tools like Flutter for faster development.
Q2. How do interior design apps make money?
A2: Interior design apps make money through various monetization strategies, such as in-app purchases (e.g., premium features like advanced design tools or exclusive furniture catalogs), subscription models for access to pro features, or commissions from affiliate links when users buy furniture or products through the app. Some may also offer advertising opportunities for brands in the design space.
Q3. What is the cost of developing an interior design app?
A3: The cost of developing an interior design app depends on the features you want to include and the complexity of the project. If you incorporate advanced features like AR, 3D modeling, or AI-driven design suggestions, the price will go up. Other factors like platform choice (iOS, Android, or both), design, development, testing, and ongoing maintenance also influence the overall cost. Whether you’re building in-house or outsourcing to a development team can also impact the price.
Q4. What are the features of an interior design app?
A4: Features of an interior design app typically include a user-friendly design editor (for room layouts), 3D visualization and AR for furniture placement, virtual mood boards, product catalogs, and integration with e-commerce platforms for purchasing items. Social features for sharing designs, saving favorite products, or collaborating with friends/clients are also included.