When I decided to renovate my house earlier this year, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I wasn’t working with an architect, I didn’t have a team, and I definitely didn’t want to spend thousands on custom drawings that I might end up changing later. I just wanted a way to plan things out myself – visually, clearly, and in a way that didn’t require learning an overly complex CAD program.
I read a lot of online comparisons, watched YouTube demos, tried out a few free tools that didn’t really do what I needed – and then I found Plan7Architect Pro. I wasn’t expecting much, to be honest, but it turned out to be exactly what I needed.
Getting Started: Surprisingly Simple
Installation was easy and quick. I downloaded the program, followed the prompts, and it launched without any issues. What struck me right away was how unintimidating it felt. The interface isn’t flashy, but it’s clean and logical. You can tell it’s designed for people who want to get things done, not just tinker around.
Before drawing anything, I watched a couple of short tutorial videos on their site. They were simple and to the point, and they gave me a good foundation to start with. In the beginning, I just wanted to recreate the layout of my existing ground floor to see what I could improve. After about 30 minutes, I had a working sketch — with correct room sizes, doors, and windows — all visible in both 2D and 3D.
Planning in 2D and 3D – at the Same Time
What really impressed me was the real-time 3D view. You can draw your walls in 2D, but immediately see how everything looks in 3D – with ceiling height, wall thickness, and even textures. For someone like me, who can’t visualize floor plans well just from lines and symbols, this was a game changer.
I could zoom through the rooms, rotate the view, check if a window felt too small, and move it instantly. And since the 2D and 3D views are linked, every change updates everywhere. No confusion, no rendering delay.
Precision, but Not Overkill
Plan7Architect gives you full control over measurements – wall thickness, height, elevation levels, materials. I appreciated how much you can customize without feeling overwhelmed. For example, I was able to create a half-open wall between the kitchen and living area, try different wall openings, and test out a few layout variations quickly.
When it came to working on the attic, I managed to draw sloped ceilings and even adjust the roof pitch. It took a bit of experimenting, but I never had to look up complicated commands or formulas. Most tools are intuitive once you try them.
Interior and Garden Design – Surprisingly Fun
I didn’t buy the software with interior design in mind, but I ended up spending a lot of time furnishing my layout. There’s a pretty big library of objects: couches, beds, cabinets, kitchen appliances, bathroom fixtures, even decor items like plants and lighting.
Placing furniture helped me figure out whether my room dimensions made sense — especially in the kitchen. I also mocked up a few different island and dining table positions, and it helped me avoid expensive mistakes.
Then I moved outside. You can actually model driveways, fences, trees, and patios, and it really helped to see how the house would sit on the plot. I even added a slope to simulate the hill behind my property.
Roof, Layers & Structural Stuff
If you’re planning a complex roof structure or a multi-level house, the software has tools for that too. I tried out both pitched and flat roofs, and even added a second floor with a staircase. It’s not drag-and-drop simple, but it’s doable without an engineering degree.
I also liked the layering system — you can work on the ground floor, upper floor, and roof separately and then combine the views. For me, it was enough to plan an extension with confidence and get everything structurally lined up.
Exports, Sharing & Contractor-Ready Plans
One of my goals was to eventually hand off my plan to a contractor, and this worked well. You can export floor plans as high-quality, DWG, PDFs, images, or even 3D files. Everything is to scale. I also printed a few room-specific layouts and measurements, and my builder was genuinely impressed by how organized it looked.
No, it’s not AutoCAD – but for planning your own project and communicating clearly with a professional, it does more than enough.
Final Thoughts – Is It Worth It?
Absolutely. For a one-time payment, I didn’t expect to get this much flexibility and clarity. No subscription, no paywalls, and no nonsense. It gave me the freedom to try out ideas, to plan and adjust at my own pace, and to understand my home project deeply — not just visually, but spatially.
If you’re someone who:
• wants to plan their home project with confidence,
• prefers a hands-on, visual approach to learning,
• likes having creative control without spending weeks figuring out a tool,
…then I’d say give Plan7Architect a serious look.
I was able to go from idea to plan quickly, thanks to the built-in structure and tutorial videos. It helped me avoid mistakes, explore different layouts, and make decisions with clarity — without feeling overwhelmed.