3D visualization has completely transformed interior design and architecture. Interior designers and architects are increasingly implementing 3D visualization into their projects, from the first time they showcase designs to clients to the point when they finish the project.

Gone are the times when they needed to draw sketches and illustrations or make physical models of their projects so that they could better present various concepts to their clients. Today, with the help of 3D visualization, they can showcase every concept just the way it is.

That’s precisely why 3D renderings have become so popular. They can help easily present all the aesthetic details of a home or office, as well as every single functionality aspect of the space. They can help visualize the space like never before.

Here are all the ways 3D visualization has taken 3D interior design to a whole new level.

Photorealistic Visualizations

When you show a 2D presentation of a particular space to a client, they cannot exactly visualize the space with all its details. They can do it to a certain level, but they cannot fully grasp how the actual result will look like once it’s finished, especially if they are not very technical.

This significantly slows down the decision-making process, and eventually the entire project completion.

On the other hand, if you show a photorealistic 3D rendering of that same space to your client, you would be able to instantly paint a real picture of the project in their mind. Your client can see exactly how everything will look like before you even start designing the space, or before it’s even constructed.

Just as the name suggests, realistic visualizations take you to a level of realism that you simply can’t get to with traditional sketches and illustrations. They help you showcase visuals that look real, which is precisely what helps your clients make informed decisions.

Simple and Effective Design Revisions

When you create a sketch of a particular design, there are only so many changes you can make before you need to start from scratch all over again. Needless to say, this is definitely not the best way of planning the interior design of a project, but it’s the way it has always been done.

However, with 3D visualization, you can say goodbye to endless revisions that put a brake on the entire project and increase the costs of the project. Now, you can easily make as many changes as necessary until the desired result is achieved. This is simply because you don’t need to draw anything on paper.

With the help of various 3D visualization tools, you can easily change every single detail you need, and effectively provide all the required revisions to your client. What’s more, they don’t need to wait forever for you to make the changes, as the tools help you do it very quickly.

They have plenty of different features for changing the style, the tone of a space, and pretty much anything else involved in the design. With just a few simple clicks, you can make all the design revisions, and achieve the desired results.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality has made it possible for people to virtually walk through a particular property, and see exactly what it would feel like to live or work there. All they need to do is put on a VR headset, and virtually step into a home or office, feeling as if they were actually there in real life.

This is one of the most significant innovations in 3D visualization that are revolutionizing interior design. It is still fairly expensive for a lot of projects, but it is slowly becoming one of the most essential things in 3D interior design.

With VR in interior design, you can truly show your clients the end result of a project before it is even built. You can bring every project to life, as your clients can see it unfold right before their eyes. They can experience it like never before, and see exactly what you may need to adjust to fulfill all their needs.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality provides even more realistic experiences than VR, which is why interior designers are increasingly relying on it as well. AR and VR are quite similar, except AR is somewhere between the real and virtual world.

It overlays the real-world environment with digital elements, just like those you see on Snapchat, or your smartphone camera. As opposed to VR, which takes you to a completely virtual environment, AR enhances the physical environment to give you a more real-world experience.

With AR, your clients only need their smartphones to see how the space you’re designing will look like with a variety of different tones, styles, and furniture. They can almost touch everything in the room, and see exactly how the layout will look like.

Mixed Reality

Mixed reality is still in its infancy stage, but it certainly won’t be long before every 3D interior designer uses it. MR is a combination of VR and AR, combining the best of the two worlds to provide you with an immersive experience you’ve seen only in sci-fi movies.

It’s similar to AR in that it overlays the physical world with digital objects, but it actually allows you to manipulate those objects. This means that you can enable your clients to manipulate your designs, practically touching, changing, and moving pieces of furniture, or any other design detail.

With MR, you can instantly make all the revisions together with your clients, greatly saving time and costs, and ensuring every project is successful.

3D Mapping

3D mapping technology helps create almost the same immersive effect as mixed reality. The difference is that it transforms a space into a 360° projection area, with the help of projectors. This means that you can’t manipulate the digital objects, but you can still perfectly represent all the furniture and other design elements in a room you’re designing.

This is obviously more cost-effective than mixed reality, and it can help your clients see exactly how the space will look like once the project is finished.

The best part about 3D mapping is that it helps you accurately map all the design elements so that they can perfectly fit the layout. For instance, if your client would like to incorporate a particular piece of furniture but isn’t sure whether it would actually fit, you can map it accurately, and help the client make the right decision.

Cloud Computing

3D visualization files usually take a lot of storage space. VR, AR, and MR simulations are really big files, so it can be challenging showing them to clients, as you would need a USB drive with quite a lot of storage.

This is where cloud computing comes into play. Being able to upload all your 3D visualizations to the cloud makes all the difference, making your every design project run as smoothly as possible.

Also, since you don’t need traditional sketches and illustrations anymore, you don’t even need to meet face to face with every client, as you can simply send them the digital files of your designs. They could be located on the other side of the planet, and instantly access your digital copies.

This also makes the review and revision processes much simpler, and naturally saves both costs and time.

Needless to say, the emergence and availability of cloud technology have made it incredibly easier for interior designers and architects to find more clients. This is precisely because you don’t need to be in the same room for you to showcase your designs to clients, and revise them when necessary.

What Does the Future Hold?

All these innovations in 3D visualization have truly revolutionized interior design. They opened the door to 3D interior design that completely transforms the way interior designers work, and the way their clients’ properties are brought to life.

We’ve only touched the tip of the enormous iceberg that 3D interior design is now, as 3D visualization technology keeps advancing at a very fast pace. With ever-evolving technology, we are bound to see more extraordinary innovations like these in the near future.

What new innovations will come our way, only time will tell, but you can be sure that they will be just as magnificent as all the aforementioned ones.

As an interior designer yourself, you should definitely jump on the 3D visualization bandwagon as soon as possible, and join the wild ride. You will stay ahead of the curve, attract a greater number of clients, and make sure that your every project is seamless and successful. So, embrace the future, and enter a whole new dimension of 3D interior design.