SKETCHUP FOR INTERIOR DESIGN

 In SketchUp, you can work in any unit of measurement from mm to meters. Just choose the initial template that is right for you, and then later you can change your preferred method of measurement. For us interior designers, we prefer metric (mm) for ultimate precision.  

Now, SketchUp is a three-dimensional program that allows you to create life-like interiors. But to get to that stage, you first need to create yourself a floorplan. This floorplan can be a full house or a single room, the decision is of course yours.  You have the option in SketchUp to import JPEG floorplans (like the ones found on property websites such as Zoopla and Rightmove), which is fantastic if you’re planning on purchasing a new property and want to see if your ideas would work before putting in an offer. Simply download the floorplan or use the Snipping Tool to snip it out and save it as a JPEG on your system. You can then import it into SketchUp, scale it to size, and use it as a template to draw over the top. It’s fabulous.  

 You can also import architectural DWG files into SketchUp. At Rejig Interiors, we work with a number of architectural practices, and by importing their plans, we can convert these into 3D designs. They often need a little tidying, such as making sure all the lines are joined, but within a few hours, you can get the bones of your new space up and into a 3D model.

Once you’ve created your 2D floorplan and added in window apertures and doors, you can then insert CAD models from the 3D Warehouse, such as a dining table with chairs or a bed. Just be sure to check that the model is the correct size once imported into SketchUp, if its not, then don't worry you can rescale it to your desired size.

 By planning your space with 2D furniture, you are spatial planning and making sure your design ideas work and that the furniture you have your eye on fits the space. I used to do all of this by hand in Adobe Illustrator: I’d create a floor plan and draw out the furniture, print it out, and position it manually to see how it all fit. No need to do this now!

For many designers or DIY-ers, this level of planning is enough. They may put together a mood board of their ideas to accompany the floorplan, a quick and effective package often offered by hobbyists.

 However, SketchUp is so much more than that. You can transition your 2D plans into 3D designs relatively easily. You just need to group the geometry and tag them properly to keep your model organised and prevent everything from blending together. If you don’t group elements like walls, floors, or furniture, you run the risk of your model merging into a bit of a mess. But the good news is that grouping and tagging are super easy to learn and use. 

 Once you have the bones of your 3D model in place, you can start to decorate and furnish it. You can import external life-like textures such as wood flooring, carpets, or tiles to decorate your surfaces (just make sure your texture is a repeatable pattern). SketchUp will duplicate the texture, and you can then scale the pattern to reflect real-life proportions. If the pattern isn’t repeatable, you’ll end up with a blocky, unrealistic result. 

 SketchUp provides users (depending on the version) with a number of built-in material libraries such as water, bricks, and other interior finishes, a great starting point. You can also create your own libraries of textures to use across multiple projects.

One area SketchUp is still lacking is mirror reflections. Unfortunately, at the moment this isn’t possible in real time. However, there are workarounds such as taking a photo of the presumed reflection, reversing it, and importing it as a JPEG to use as a mirror texture.

 Decorating the interior couldn’t be easier. You have an array of colours to choose from, and you can also create your own. In our course, we teach you how to replicate real paint colours using a few little hacks, helping you feel confident in your paint choices. 

 Geo-Location is a brilliant feature when you want to understand how natural light affects your design. By geo-locating your model, SketchUp will simulate accurate sun paths and shadow positions based on the location and time of day. Perfect for evaluating how light changes throughout the day.

In SketchUp you can turn on the shadows to simulate real-life light conditions. This adds realism to your renders and helps you design with purpose, whether that’s placing a reading nook in a sunny corner or understanding when a room may feel darker. 

 Now that you’ve nailed down the bones of the room and the colour scheme, it’s time to furnish it. SketchUp comes equipped with the world’s largest portfolio of 3D CAD models, uploaded by both brands and individuals. Many brands even have online showrooms in the 3D Warehouse, perfect for interior designers looking to specify products.

Another brilliant tool is the image search function built into the 3D Warehouse. It helps you find models of specific items you’ve specified, even if the supplier doesn’t have a formal presence in the Warehouse. You can usually find something similar!

 For product designers out there, you of course have the option to create your own furniture from zero. It’s surprisingly easy, and if you’re feeling brave, you can even add a bit of code to make it interactive, like doors opening and closing, or showing how a hinge mechanism would operate.

 At Rejig Interiors, we create all of our kitchen designs from the ground up, tailored to our clients’ preferences. That way, we’re not bound by standard cabinet sizes and can fully optimise both design and storage.

 Section cuts are perfect for creating detailed elevation drawings directly from your 3D model. You can slice through the design to expose internal details, such as a run of cabinetry, wall elevations, or bathroom layouts. You can even stack multiple section views for more complex plans.

 SketchUp lets you label and annotate your models clearly and professionally. You can show exact dimensions, call out materials, or describe features directly in your views, essential for passing on instructions to contractors or manufacturers. 

 Try out styles such as hand-drawn edges, sketch lines, or blueprint-style models. These effects can help you convey design intent at different stages, conceptual, technical, or final presentation. It’s all about storytelling through visuals. 

  An interior never exists in isolation, you can now bring your model to life by adding external environments, a new feature for SketchUp 2025. Choose from an array of external environments such as gardens and landscapes, or even snow to enhance the appearance of your models.  

 Save specific views of your model using the Scenes tool. This is great for creating consistent perspectives for presentations or client reviews. Set up an entrance view, kitchen island shot, bird’s eye plan, etc. You can then flip between them instantly.