Best Exterior Design Apps for Your Home

Choosing the right exterior design app can transform your home’s look and enhance its curb appeal. In today’s digital age, numerous apps offer a range of features to help you visualize, design, and plan your exterior home improvements. This article explores the top exterior design apps, highlighting their key features, usability, and how they can assist you in achieving your dream home exterior. Whether you are looking to update your home’s facade, plan a garden, or choose the perfect paint color, these apps can provide invaluable assistance.

1. Houzz

Houzz is a popular app among homeowners and designers for good reason. It offers a vast library of high-quality photos, which can provide inspiration and ideas for your home’s exterior. The app includes a feature called “Sketch” that allows you to annotate photos, making it easier to visualize changes. Additionally, Houzz connects users with local professionals, including architects and landscapers, who can help bring your ideas to life.

Key Features:

• Photo Library: Browse thousands of photos to find inspiration.
• Sketch Tool: Annotate and make changes to photos.
• Professional Network: Connect with local designers and contractors.

Usability: The app is user-friendly with an intuitive interface that allows you to save your favorite images and create mood boards.

2. Home Design 3D

For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, Home Design 3D offers a 3D modeling experience that lets you design and visualize your home’s exterior in detail. The app allows you to create detailed floor plans and view them in 3D, providing a realistic representation of how your changes will look.

Key Features:

• 3D Modeling: Create and view your designs in three dimensions.
• Customizable Elements: Add and modify elements such as walls, windows, and doors.
• Realistic Visualization: See how different materials and colors will look.

Usability: With a drag-and-drop interface, users can easily design their exteriors without needing advanced design skills.

3. ColorSnap by Sherwin-Williams

Choosing the right color for your home’s exterior can be challenging. ColorSnap by Sherwin-Williams simplifies this process by allowing you to try out different paint colors virtually. You can upload photos of your home and apply various paint colors to see how they look in different lighting conditions.

Key Features:

• Color Visualization: See how different colors will look on your home.
• Lighting Simulation: View colors in various lighting conditions.
• Color Matching: Find paint colors that match your favorite images.

Usability: The app is straightforward, allowing users to quickly test and compare colors without needing physical paint samples.

4. Planner 5D

Planner 5D is a versatile app that allows you to design both the interior and exterior of your home. It offers a comprehensive toolset for creating floor plans, adding outdoor features, and visualizing your design in high-quality 3D.

Key Features:

• Floor Plan Creation: Design detailed floor plans with ease.
• Outdoor Design: Incorporate landscaping and exterior elements.
• 3D Visualization: View your designs in realistic 3D.

Usability: The app is designed for users of all skill levels, with a user-friendly interface and a large library of design elements.

5. iScape

iScape is specifically tailored for outdoor design, making it a great choice for planning garden layouts, patios, and other exterior features. The app allows users to create detailed outdoor designs and see them in a realistic 3D environment.

Key Features:

• Outdoor Design Tools: Create and plan garden layouts, patios, and more.
• 3D Visualization: View your outdoor designs in realistic 3D.
• Element Library: Access a wide range of outdoor design elements.

Usability: The app’s intuitive design makes it easy to use, even for beginners.

6. Lowe’s Vision

Lowe’s Vision app uses augmented reality (AR) to help you visualize how different exterior products will look on your home. You can scan your home’s facade and try out various products, such as siding and roofing, to see how they fit with your existing design.

Key Features:

• Augmented Reality: Visualize products on your home using AR.
• Product Catalog: Browse a wide range of exterior products.
• Real-Time Preview: See how products look in real-time.

Usability: The app is designed to be user-friendly, with a simple interface that allows you to quickly test different products.

Conclusion

Selecting the best exterior design app depends on your specific needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, need help with color selection, or want to create detailed 3D models, there is an app that can cater to your requirements. Houzz and Home Design 3D offer robust design and visualization tools, while ColorSnap and Lowe’s Vision provide specialized features for color selection and product visualization. Planner 5D and iScape offer comprehensive design capabilities for both interior and exterior projects.

By using these apps, you can streamline your exterior design process, making it easier to achieve the look and feel you desire for your home. Experiment with different options, explore various features, and find the app that best suits your design style and needs.