Think rearranging office furniture is easy? Then you’ve never been unlucky enough to work in one of those offices where two people can’t pass each other in a corridor without wedging together like Looney Tunes characters in search of a cliff. Fortunately, there’s a software package for just about any problem these days. The following are three of the best ones to use for designing an office furniture layout.
1. SmartDraw
The first place we look when we’re evaluating any software package is CNET, the granddaddy of all tech review sites. If something has a high star rating from both the CNET editor and the CNET users, you can be pretty sure it’s a product that’s worth your time.
With this in mind, we present to you SmartDraw’s office planning application. With a rare five-star rating from CNET’s staff, an average user rating of 3.5 stars, and a truly inspiring library of both templates and symbols, this is one of the great office furniture layout software packages.
Price: Free to try; $197 to buy
2. Edraw Max
This free-to-try office furniture layout software package includes a large library of furniture types, floor plans, and charts. Make blueprints, asset inventories, electrical diagrams, and move management plans. Ideal for folks who aren’t power users and just need a simple package that will help them make basic plans.
The company quotes one of their users as saying, “There are a lot of software out there but after trying several, I’m convinced that this one has the most to offer for a good price — some of the heavy CAD programs are too much for the likes of me, people who don’t need that much power nor extent to create some of the in-depth plans and drawings.”
Price: Free to try; $99.95 to buy
3. SeeMyDesign Room Planner
If you need a cheap software package that will not only help you plan your furniture layout, but also calculate costs for things like paint and carpeting, SeeMyDesign is a good choice. This interactive design tool was created for home design, but is adaptable to office use and offers 3D views of your designs for a real preview of the look and feel of your space. Also helps you choose materials, such as flooring, and compare paint colors and architectural details.
