A design assistant, construction tools and libraries to create your house

Written for Architect 3D 26 for Windows. The Mac edition has similar tools, though some menu names differ.

Architect 3D gives you help at every stage of a project: QuickStart to get started, construction tools on a set of plan tabs to build the house, and libraries of objects, materials and colours to furnish and decorate it.

Step 1: Build the house wall by wall

1. When QuickStart opens, click Continue.
2. Click the split 2D/3D view icon to see your plan in 2D and 3D at the same time.
3. On the Floor tab, click the Wall tool, click in the design window and drag. Release when the wall is long enough.
4. Repeat for each wall; corners join automatically. Click Animated Fly-Around to turn the design in 3D.

Step 2: Or room by room

1. In QuickStart, drag room types from the list on the right into the design window.
2. Resize each room by its corners.
3. Click Continue to switch to the design window.

Step 3: Use a tool: placing a door

1. Click the plan tab you want to work on, here the Floor tab.
2. Select a tool, here the Door tool.
3. Configure it on the Properties tab on the right if needed. The hint for each tool explains how to use it on the plan.

Step 4: Furnish the interior

1. Click the Libraries tab and choose the Objects library from the menu.
2. Pick a library and category from the categories menu. The contents appear in the preview bar.
3. Drag the item you want straight into the 3D view. Adjust its position on the 2D plan if needed.

Step 5: Paint the walls

1. Switch to the full-screen 3D View.
2. On the Libraries tab, choose the colours library, then a category of paints.
3. Drag a colour onto a wall in the 3D view and choose how to apply it from the menu that appears.