How to Draw a Floor Plan in SketchUp
If you are working with a designer to make changes to the layout of your home, you may find it difficult to convey to the professional the ideas you have for the space. You may even have a hard time visualizing them yourself. While drawings and plans are useful, in themselves they are not necessarily the most effective way to create your design. A better approach might be to do what so many people are doing and create a 3D layout based on your plan sketches. You can do this yourself using the freeware version of Google SketchUp.
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Instructions
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Open SketchUp. In the interface that opens, you will see a toolbar at the top, or sometimes on the left, and the menu at the top. You will notice a 2D human figure in the scene. He is there to help with the relative sizing of things as you build. Delete him if you prefer.
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Referencing the plans you have drawn, select the "Line" tool and use it to draw out the shape of the room or rooms you are working on. As you draw a line, use the three colored "Axis" guides you see to make sure you are getting the line where you want it. Also, make sure that you are getting the lengths right by glancing down at the numerical display in the lower right corner.
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Select the "Inset" tool, click on the surface you drew and create a slight inset border for the walls. Now select the "Push/Pull" tool and click on "Border." Raise it to the correct height for the walls, again referencing the numerical display to get it right.
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Click on the "Paint Bucket" tool. In the dialog box that pops up, browse through the categories to find a color or texture you would like to use. Click on the surface (a wall or floor) to which you want to apply it. Repeat this to texture all the surfaces.
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Click on the "Get Models" icon and browse through the 3D warehouse for furniture or fixtures that come close to what you have in mind for the room. Place each model and use the "Scale" tool to resize it to fit.
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Select "File" and click "Save." In the dialog box, name your file and save it.
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References
- Photo Credit office the rest room blank interior image by victor zastol"skiy from Fotolia.com
