How To Use Renderings Throughout Your Entire Interior Design Process
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Each year, we compile insights and tips from interior design industry experts to help make the year ahead more seamless and profitable. We gather these contributions into our annual playbook, and in this blog, we’re sharing tips from the owner and designer behind CANB Design, a residential design and rendering studio that specializes in creating realistic 3D renderings that help designers and homeowners visualize their projects with clarity and confidence.
WRITTEN BY CARLY FROM CANB DESIGN
As an interior designer, you should be using renderings throughout your entire process, not just as a final deliverable. You can highlight projects that haven’t been finished yet in your marketing, utilize them as a decision making tool at multiple stages of the design process and they can help you communicate your design to contractors.
Rather than look at them as an optional add-on, treat renderings as a powerful tool, and your way to:
test and refine design concepts before presentation,
confirm your design intent is hitting the mark, and
prevent costly mistakes (or clients changing their minds) down the line.
Find a Program That Pulls Double Duty For You by Combining Your Drafting With Renders.
More simple programs like DesignFiles are great for visualizing spaces, furniture, and turning them into renders without a huge learning curve. More in depth programs like Sketchup or Chief Architect are great for more detailed construction documents and realistic renders. But whichever program you choose, avoid using AI. With AI, you have very little control over the output. Each render can come out visually different, and it can stifle the creativity that designers excel at, as it’s incapable of imagining new or creative ideas for a space.
Partner With a Rendering Expert.
If rendering costs you too much of your time and energy, or you’ve considered adding renderings to your service but haven’t yet because of the added time commitment, consider partnering with a rendering expert to elevate your client experience. It can help you clearly illustrate your design concepts to guide your clients through design decisions, and free up your focus for the design work you love.
Example Rendering from CANB Design
When outsourcing to CANB Design, this is what we recommend having in place:
Floorplans: detailed sketches with dimensions and notes, PDF or CAD sets, or 3D models (Canva or other apps). Bonus: include elevations, especially for cabinets
Extra details: ceiling heights, unique architectural features, or anything not shown on the plans
Photos: clear, straight-on images (no wide angles or blurry shots)
Selections: materials and FF&E with product names, details, and/or links
Once those are submitted via our online form, we will:
Review all submitted documents and follow up with any questions
Build the model in Chief Architect with materials and furniture, and send a standard view (no shadows/materiality) to confirm accuracy
(Note: if you don’t have exact selections yet, we can start with design direction and inspiration photos, then refine later)
After revisions from your notes, we add final details (plants, objects, etc.) and deliver high quality .jpg realistic renders
The full process takes up to 2 weeks from document submission, with additional time for revisions
One set of revisions is included so you can update renders after client feedback or material changes.
Ready to get renderings off your plate but continue to include this valuable tool in your services?
Send me an email at carly@canbdesign.com to get started.
Want more insights like this from other pros in the interior design industry so you can fine tune every aspect of your business?
Grab the complimentary Year End Playbook for interior designers here:
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