Graph Paper & Pencil or CAD?

Photo by Mark Fletcher Brown

Two ways to draw a basic floor plan

All you need to sketch a basic floor plan is graph paper and a pencil - two tools we all know how to use. It's the fastest and easiest way to begin a new interior design project.

Or, you can use a CAD (computer-aided drafting) tool. Free CAD programs with basic functions are available online. For more bells and whistles, you can purchase or subscribe to a more robust piece of software.

Because you have to learn how to use your new CAD program, it'll take you longer to get started. Will you spend more time learning to use a new computer program than you will spend designing your new room?

On the other hand, a CAD program gives you lots of flexibility. It's easy to make changes to your design and generate multiple versions of your plan. Plus you get access to fun tools like 3D modeling.

It's worth thinking about.

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About the author

She didn't know it, but Jackie Lopey's days as an advertising executive were numbered when she bought and renovated a 1950's bungalow. She soon went back to school and started her own design studio. Jackie is an award-winning, California certified interior designer and the founder of Wide Canvas.

As a California Certified Interior Designer, Jackie Lopey is qualified to plan, design, and document nonstructural, non-seismic interior work—including space planning, finish and fixture specifications, and interior construction documents suitable for permit submittal by clients and their licensed design professionals—within existing buildings in the state. Her services include programming client needs, developing code‑aware layouts, preparing detailed interior drawings and specifications for licensed contractors, and guiding the installation of finishes and furnishings.

In Nevada, Wide Canvas provides design consulting focused on selections and visualizations, helping you choose cabinetry, surfaces, fixtures, furnishings, and finishes that fit your style and budget. The team develops clear concept layouts, mood boards, and 3D views to communicate design intent, and then collaborates with licensed design and construction professionals so they can translate those ideas into compliant plans and a successful build.