Prices for home design programs range widely. Prices range from free to several hundred dollars, depending upon the extent and number of features you wish. Expect to pay more, though, if you desire more 3D or similar enhancements. You also may be required to use a form of software for editing images or creating videos, which is generally free. Also, some programs charge fees for technical support.
Popular interior design programs include Corel, Paint Shop Pro, Quark Windows, and Adobe Photoshop. Corel and Paint Shop Pro are well known because of their solid reputations in the computer-image-editing field, and their ability to accomplish complex design tasks with just a few clicks. Corel, however, does not include a color palette tool. If you prefer to choose your own colors palette from the options available in this program, you will have to buy them separately.
Paint Shop Pro, on the other hand, is one of the most popular interior design programs. Although it is not as advanced as many of the others, it still is fairly powerful. Some of the most popular features of Paint Shop Pro include things like being able to customize colors, creating digital brochures, and playing with light and shadow. If you are an interior designer who likes to create full-color paintings, though, you might be disappointed in Paint Shop Pro’s limited options.
There are programs available specifically for decorators who prefer to create works of art Deco or shabby chic styles. Many interior designers work in a field that combines aesthetics with functionality. These designers, who are often thought of as minimalist, prefer to create rooms that reflect their personality rather than provide functional benefits to their users. The programs available for these interior designers are similar to those for art Deco designers. They offer limited options for color combinations and they are often quite limited in the types of things they can do with photographs.
When you decide that you are going to become an interior designer, you need to decide which part of the art Deco or shabby chic style you are going to specialize in. You also need to decide what specific skill you think you have and which specific elements of it you are good at. You may have an eye for bold colors that you’d like to incorporate into your space. Or you may be able to use your knowledge of space planning and visual psychology to figure out ways to make each room interesting and unique. Once you have decided what you are good at, then you can choose from the many specialty areas that are offered by the different home design programs.
People who want to enter the profession of interior design must keep in mind that it is a growing field, both in terms of numbers and in terms of expertise. If you want to break into this field, you will have to be very good at the kinds of research techniques that are used in the field. You will also need to have talent at drawing. Those who want to do it professionally should consider attending one of the many accredited school that will train you to be an interior designer. It isn’t going to come easy, but with the right training you could end up being very successful in your career as an interior designer.