Live Home 3D: Design Your Dream Home on Any Device
Transform Your Space with Intuitive 3D Planning Tools
Live Home 3D: Key Takeaways
Core Technology
Cross-platform design software with real-time 2D to 3D conversion. Features 2,400+ models and Trimble 3D Warehouse integration.
Considering Live Home 3D for your next home improvement project? Here's what technical professionals need to know about this comprehensive design tool.
Pricing Structure
One-time purchase of $69.99 for the Pro version. Free version available with limited features. No recurring subscription is required. (Correct as of February 2025.)
Best Applications
Excels in home renovation planning, landscape design, and basic technical layouts. Strong visualization tools for client presentations.
Technical Features
Smart Dimension system, terrain modelling, and LiDAR-enabled AR scanning. It also includes precise measurement tools and structural integrity checks.
System Requirements
Demands significant computing power for 3D rendering. Desktop version recommended over mobile for technical work.
Technical Limitations
Limited BIM integration, restricted custom model imports, and basic electrical planning capabilities. Not suitable for detailed technical documentation.
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What is Live Home 3D?
Live Home 3D is a home design tool for computers and tablets. It helps people create floor plans and see their designs in 3D. This software is designed for homeowners who want to plan renovations and design fans who enjoy creating home layouts.
The program tries to be a middle ground between simple apps and complicated professional tools. It lets you create detailed designs without needing years of training or experience.
What Live Home 3D Can Do
Floor Plans and 3D Views
With Live Home 3D, you can draw floor plans and immediately see how they look in 3D. You can create buildings with multiple floors, which is helpful for designing entire houses or adding a second story to your home.
One of the best features is the way it shows materials realistically in different lighting conditions. This helps you visualize how your room will actually look before you start any real construction or decorating.
The software has special tools to make complicated parts of home design easier. For example, the Roof Assistant offers 12 different roof templates and 16 types of dormers (those little windows that stick out from roofs). If you get the Pro version, you can even create outdoor landscapes with hills and different ground levels.
Materials and Furniture
Live Home 3D lets you add different materials to each side of walls, floors, and other parts of your design. This gives you lots of control over how everything looks.
The program comes with over 2,400 objects (like furniture and decorations) and 2,100 materials to use in your designs. If you need more options, you can import 3D models from the Trimble 3D Warehouse (which used to be called Google 3D Warehouse). The software works with many file types, including COLLADA, FBX, OBJ, and others.
Works on Multiple Devices
One great thing about Live Home 3D is that it works on Windows computers, Mac computers, iPads, and iPhones. This means you can work on your design from different devices. For example, you could start a project on your computer at home and then make changes on your iPad while visiting the space you're designing.
You can also export your designs in different file formats, which is helpful if you need to share them with professionals who use other design software.
Free vs. Paid Versions
Live Home 3D has different versions with different features:
The free version lets you try basic features, but you can only work on one project at a time.
The Standard paid version adds the Material Composer, which lets you create custom materials.
The Pro version adds even more features like terrain editing for creating landscapes and an Advanced Material Editor for making realistic materials.
How Easy It Is to Use
Performance on Different Devices
Recent updates to Live Home 3D have made it faster, especially when rendering light and shadows. The program also handles large projects better than before and automatically simplifies very detailed objects to keep things running smoothly.
Some users had reported problems when using the software on iPads and touch screens. For example, one user mentioned that it can be difficult to place furniture precisely on an iPad.
Technical Problems
Users had reported some limitations with the software:
Difficulty keeping walls straight and aligned.
Problems with the camera view when switching between floors in multi-story buildings
Challenges getting furniture to line up perfectly with walls
Learning the Software
Live Home 3D shows you both 2D and 3D views at the same time with its Split Mode feature. This helps you see how changes to your floor plan affect the 3D view right away.
The tools are organized into different groups for building, furniture, materials, and rendering options. However, some users say it takes time to learn, especially if you've used other design software before.
Moving around in the 3D view can be challenging for some people. The software uses WASD keys (like video games) for navigation, which might feel strange if you're used to other design programs like SketchUp.
To help new users, Live Home 3D includes detailed help documentation and video tutorials. The company also offers technical support to answer questions.
Live Home 3D has been updated many times with new features. Version 4 added major improvements like:
More realistic materials
Curtain walls (non-structural partitions like glass walls)
A separate design level for outdoor spaces
The ability to rotate and move entire buildings in the 2D plan
Other updates have added hundreds of new furniture objects and improved the material tools. The developers also added search features to help users find objects and materials in the library more easily.
Recent Improvements
Recent Improvements
Most users seem to like Live Home 3D, especially for its core features. The Mac App Store reviews show many five-star ratings with positive comments.
Users appreciate that the software is accessible and offers many creative possibilities. However, some people get frustrated with certain technical aspects and how navigation works.
The reviews vary between different platforms (like Mac versus Windows), but without exact ratings, it's hard to say which version users prefer.
Who Should Use Live Home 3D
Best For:
Homeowners planning renovations
Design enthusiasts who want to create detailed home layouts
People who need to work on designs across different devices
Anyone who wants to visualize their space before making real changes
May Not Be Ideal For:
Professional architects who need very precise tools
Users who struggle with 3D navigation
People working on very complex architectural projects
Those who need perfect alignment of walls and objects
Conclusion
Live Home 3D offers a good balance between easy-to-use home design tools and professional features. Its ability to work on different devices and show realistic 3D views makes it helpful for planning renovations or redesigning spaces.
While it has some limitations with wall alignment and navigation, recent updates show that the developers are continuously improving the software. The different versions (Free, Standard, and Pro) let users choose the features they need based on their projects and budget.
For homeowners and design enthusiasts who want to create detailed home designs without learning complicated professional software, Live Home 3D provides a solid option with plenty of creative possibilities.
Stay Updated
We test these tools regularly and update this post regularly. Last checked: February 2025.
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