Use the wall tools to draw and configure the plan of your home

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

With the wall tools in Architect 3D you can build a floor plan one wall at a time or one room at a time, and then refine it: divide a room in two, or open two rooms into a single space. Architect 3D joins walls at the corners for you.

Step 1: Draw the plan wall by wall

When QuickStart opens, click Continue to go to the design window. Then use whichever method suits you:

Drag a wall to length

1. On the Floor tab, click the Wall tool.
2. Click in the design window, hold down the mouse button and drag. The wall follows the pointer and its length is shown as you go.
3. Release the mouse button when the wall is the length you want.

Type an exact length

1. On the Floor tab, click the Wall (Custom Wall Length) tool.
2. Click the starting point of the wall, hold down the mouse button and drag to set its direction.
3. Release the mouse button and type the length in the dialog box that opens.

Step 2: Or lay it out room by room

1. In QuickStart, drag the room types listed on the right into the design window.
2. Use the corners of each room as handles to resize it.
3. Click Continue to see the walls of your layout on the plan.

Step 3: Divide a room

For example, to split a bathroom so you can add a separate toilet:

1. On the Floor tab, click the Wall tool.
2. Click on an existing wall to start the new one, hold down the mouse button, drag to the length you need and release.
3. Each part keeps the name of the original room. Click a room label and type a new name.

Tip: while the new wall is selected you can nudge it with the arrow keys.

Step 4: Open rooms into one space

For example, to open a kitchen onto the dining room:

1. Zoom in with the mouse wheel so you can see both rooms.
2. Click the Select tool, click the wall sections between the rooms and press Delete.
3. If needed, adjust the alignment or length of the remaining walls with the Wall tool.
4. Click inside the opened area: the rooms now form a single space.

Save your project to keep the new layout. Next, add doors and windows.