If you work in an interior design studio, you know that interior design projects aren’t just about being creative.
The reality is, as a designer, you may sometimes find yourself overwhelmed with poor organization and technicalities, and platforms like Excel often aren’t enough to meet your business needs.
Add tight deadlines to the mix, and you’re facing a real challenge.
I understand the frustration these situations might cause — after all, you’re a designer, not an organization expert.
Do any of these questions sound familiar?
- Who’s in charge of the furniture plan?
- Who’s handling vendor communication?
- Who’s coordinating contractors?
- What’s the status of deliveries?
- When is the installation due?
If yes, onboarding a dedicated project management tool will likely help you streamline your workflow and track any design project from start to finish.
I’ve tested some of the most popular interior design project management software that offer free trials, so you don’t have to.
By the end of this article, I hope every designer finds exactly what they need — so keep reading.
In this article:
Top 5 interior design project management tools
Before we dive into the detailed reviews, here’s a summary of the top 5 interior design project management platforms I tested:
| Interior design tool | Best for | Free plan | Free trial | Lowest price | Available for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaky | Beginner-friendly interior design project management | ✅ | ✅ (14 days) | $3.99/user/month | web, iOS, Android |
| Design Manager | Interior design advanced accounting | ❌ | ✅ (30 days) | $79/user/month | web, iOS |
| Programa | Streamlined procurement and order management in architecture and design | ❌ | ✅ (7 days) | $47.20/user/month for (first 3 users), then $29/user/month | web |
| DesignFiles | Creating mood boards and floor plans | ❌ | ✅ (90 days) | $49/month (+$25/month per additional user | web |
| Floorplanner | Creating 2D and 3D interior design projects | ✅ | ❌ | $59/month for teams | web, iOS, Android |
#1 Plaky: best beginner-friendly project management tool for interior designers
The first tool on my list is very convenient for beginners in project management. However, as interior design project management software, Plaky goes beyond just the basic functionalities.
One of Plaky’s main advantages is that it offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to task management. So, you’ll be able to customize your workspace the way it suits your specific creative workflow and jumpstart your projects in no time.
Pros of using Plaky for interior design
As soon as you set up Plaky, you’ll notice it’s easy to use and quick to learn. I believe a short learning curve is crucial for any interior design team, as it saves valuable time that would otherwise be spent on onboarding complex software.
Some of Plaky’s standout features are its great storing and sharing options. You can store all the files and documents right there within the item cards, so anyone on the team can access important files in Plaky whenever they need them. Plus, you don’t have to worry about storage limits, as Plaky allows unlimited file uploads across all its plans.
Try Plaky for interior design project management
When it comes to handling creative projects, Plaky can help you:
- Track your interior design workflow to monitor project progress and prevent confusion.
- Manage assignees to keep everyone on the team on the same page regarding task allocation.
- Track project deadlines to make sure everybody knows when each task is due.
- Set statuses to identify the stage of each task and streamline the review and approval process.
- Set up new projects with project management templates to save time on repetitive workflows.
- Communicate with team members via mentions and comments in Plaky to increase transparency.
- Stay notified of any changes with email and Plaky in-app notifications to avoid overlooking important task updates.
In addition, you can color-code your tasks in Plaky, which makes the tool visually appealing for creatives while improving workspace transparency and organization.
And, if you need a bird’s-eye overview of the project, you can always switch from Table to Kanban or Gantt view and get a clearer insight into all project activities, deadlines, and potential bottlenecks.
What makes Plaky stand out even more from other project management apps is that it offers a completely free plan with unlimited users, boards, and items.
This makes Plaky a perfect choice if you own a small studio, you’re just starting your business, and don’t need an overly complex or expensive management system — or if you simply need additional help with managing your current business.
Cons of using Plaky for interior design
Currently, Plaky offers a limited selection of integrations, which may be a dealbreaker for those looking to integrate the app with other popular tools used in the interior design field.
On the plus side, Plaky’s integration with Clockify, a time-tracking tool, can help you get even greater control over how you spend your time.
Overall, Plaky’s limitations don’t make it any less useful for keeping a close eye on any type of interior design project with ease.
Besides, it is a relatively new platform that continues to evolve daily.
What’s new:
In September 2024, Plaky introduced subitems, a new feature that helps users break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces to stay on top of everything.
Available for:
web, iOS, Android
| Plaky’s plans | Plaky’s pricing |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Pro | $3.99/user/month* |
| Enterprise | $8.99/user/month* |
*billed annually
#2 Design Manager: best for interior design accounting
Design Manager is an interior design PM tool that helps professionals in interior design and similar industries stay on top of projects with the app’s full accounting system.
The software is comprehensive and helps you handle accounting, purchasing, reporting, and client communication. It also comes with advanced features like inventory management.
Pros of using Design Manager for interior design
I think the Design Manager’s accounting system is its greatest advantage. The accounting features are created specifically for the interior design industry, so you won’t need to use a generic accounting system.
Whether you’re a freelancer or have a small interior design business, you can use Design Manager to:
- Manage proposals,
- Track client deposits,
- Monitor invoice statuses,
- Handle purchase orders with vendors,
- Oversee your project budget, and similar.
You’ll stay on top of all the interior design project specifics with Design Manager. I especially like that the app gives you the choice to either manually track all item specifications or use the product clipper tool.
The clipper functions as a Chrome extension, so you can source products directly from vendor sites in no time. I installed the Clipper and used it on another website to clip products in Design Manager, and everything worked smoothly.
Cons of using Design Manager for interior design
A downside of Design Manager is that it lacks visualization tools, such as the ability to visualize projects in 3D or create mood boards.
Design Manager has a steep learning curve too, though that’s understandable considering the app’s rich accounting features.
I also noticed the sign-up is a little slower as you cannot register with your Google account.
What’s new:
As of October 2024, the new credit card reconciliation feature on the web platform enables users to match charges from credit card statements with expenses recorded in Design Manager, ensuring accurate financial tracking and detailed project cost insights.
Available for:
Web, iOS
Pricing:
$79/user/month
💡 Plaky Pro Tip
For more useful project management tools, check out our other comparison articles:
#3 Programa: best for streamlining procurement and order management
Programa is a tool for managing workflows in the architecture and design industry. The platform helps you centralize key tasks like concept development, collaboration, scheduling, and specification, which helps you stay organized and efficient.
Pros of using Programa for interior design
One of the biggest benefits I’ve experienced with Programa is how it keeps everything in one place. From managing schedules to sharing project details with clients, Programa simplifies interior design processes that can take much longer with multiple tools.
Also, the Programa interface is clean and simple, which makes it visually appealing.
Here are some of the things you can do with Programa:
- Store all your product data in one place in the product library.
- Create schedules to easily juggle all the details.
- Track projects using a board, list, or timeline view for a better project overview.
- Track time for better project time management.
- Manage a to-do list for better task management.
- Set up a procurement management hub for streamlined tracking of orders and payments and better client collaboration.
- Create and issue purchase orders to clearly outline what was ordered and prevent price or item mistakes.
- Create and share invoices for clients with the QuickBooks integration.
- Clip items directly from the Internet.
Cons of using Programa for interior design
Personally, I found the learning curve a bit steep and the platform a little complex at first. Also, Programa currently doesn’t offer a dedicated mobile app, which can make it tricky to keep up with tasks while on the go.
What’s new:
In January 2025, Programa released general platform improvements, including security enhancements, fixes for duplicate subtasks, better task management (dragging, dropping, and deletion), and an improved comment editing experience.
Available for: web
| Programa’s plans | Programa’s pricing |
|---|---|
| Professional | $47.20/user/month for the first 3 users; additional users at $29/user/month* |
| Enterprise | POA |
*billed annually
Try Plaky’s mobile app to track projects on the go
#4 DesignFiles: best for creating mood boards and floor plans
DesignFiles is a tool intended to help interior designers streamline their workflow and collaborate with clients. The app is easy to use and has solid collaboration features, as well as an extensive product library.
Pros of using DesignFiles for interior design
Right from the start, I found DesignFiles very intuitive. When creating a mood board, you can choose to upload images from your computer or use the product clipper instead.
Also, you can save design boards as templates. This saves time when starting future projects since you can reuse and customize these templates to fit each client’s style. In general, it could make your workflow much more efficient.
You can perfect your mood boards with options such as:
- Layering — move products forward or backward in your layout,
- Remove the background — eliminate distractions and create cleaner visuals,
- Crop, flip, and adjust orientation — tweak products to fit your vision,
- Perspective adjustments — angle the products perfectly, and
- Resizing — change product dimensions and plan spaces more accurately.
In addition, you can design floor plans using 3D models to create more detailed space plans and visualize layouts more effectively.
I especially like the collaboration features available in DesignFiles, particularly the built-in project chat. Being able to message clients and team members directly within a project makes communication much smoother. The ability to reference specific projects when sending a message helps minimize misunderstandings too.
Also, the fact you can create invoices and set up online payments is highly convenient; clients can pay via credit card, while the QuickBooks integration allows for seamless financial tracking.
DesignFiles includes basic task and project management features as well. For instance, you can tag teammates, set due dates, assign priorities, and add comments within tasks.
Cons of using DesignFiles for interior design
I encountered a few small glitches that made certain features temporarily unresponsive, but nothing that would completely disrupt the workflow. For example, I noticed the platform can be a bit slow, especially when searching for items and vendors or working with the 3D modeling feature.
Another thing I noticed is that while the 3D rendering option was helpful, it felt somewhat basic compared to more advanced design software. It worked well for quick visualizations but lacked more sophisticated modeling capabilities.
Also, the tool lacks a mobile app, which is a huge downside if you tend to work on the go.
What’s new:
Recently, several new features were added to both DesignFiles plans, including a newly upgraded background removal tool, visual elements library, and design asset library.
Available for: web
| DesignFiles’s plans | DesignFiles’s pricing |
|---|---|
| e-Design | $49/month (+$25/month per additional user)* |
| Full Service | $69/month) (+$25/month per additional user* |
| Enterprise | POA |
*billed monthly
#5 Floorplanner: best for creating 2D and 3D interior design projects
Floorplanner is a free interior design app that allows you to create floor plans and 3D visuals to help visualize your ideas and make the most of your space.
Overall, the tool is easy to use and simple to grasp. Its basic plans are intended for individuals and enthusiasts, while more advanced packages are designed for teams.
Pros of using Floorplanner for interior design
My first impression is that Floorplanner is fast and responsive, with no glitches encountered.
When creating a new project, you’ll choose from basic room shapes, add dimensions, set total room dimensions and height, and select a room style (e.g., living room or kitchen).
Overall, the setup process is well guided, which makes it easy to create your floor plan. Also, you can adjust the camera angles and switch between 2D and 3D views for better visualization.
Once you’re finished with your project, you can easily export the image and email it to your client, which is convenient as it saves time.
That said, one thing that makes the Floorplanner app truly stand out from other apps is its system of credits.
Floorplanner is free if you only need its basic features. However, you can purchase credits that let you upgrade projects with extra features, like better exports and multiple floors.
You can buy and use Floorplanner credits without a subscription or plan, which makes this option a flexible and cost-effective way to upgrade projects without committing to ongoing fees.
You can always buy credits whenever you need them, and they will never expire as long as you have a Floorplanner account. The alternative is to subscribe to a paid plan and get a fixed number of credits per month.
Cons of using Floorplanner for interior design
I’d like to see the ability to import your own furniture and objects to add to the floor plans instead of having to pick only from the Floorplanner’s catalog.
Also, Floorplanner has limited project management functionalities, so you’d have to rely on external tools for task management, accounting, and similar.
What’s new:
Since December 2024, basic users can create up to 5 free projects in Floorplanner. These projects come with additional tools and features, including the ability to create up to 5 groups and save up to 20 favorites. Another enhancement for basic users is the ability to work with multiple floors, with a limit of up to 3 floors per project.
Available for: web, iOS, Android
| Floorplanner’s plans | Floorplanner’s pricing | |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals | Basic | $0 |
| Plus | $5/month* | |
| Pro | $29/month* | |
| Teams | Team | $59/month* |
| Business | $179/month* | |
| Enterprise | $599/month* |
*billed monthly
What is interior design project management software?
Simply put, interior design project management software is a platform that helps you deal with all daily issues interior designers face, such as:
- Coordinating and delegating tasks to team members,
- Keeping track of progress and deliverables,
- Tracking deadlines,
- Sharing drafts, sketches, and ideas within the team,
- Communicating with the project team, and
- Managing project budget and invoices.
Moreover, interior design project management software is created either specifically for interior design projects or can be easily accustomed to interior designers’ daily tasks.
This type of software contains a list of features that allow the interior design team to track progress and establish clear interior design project phases.
How to choose the best project management software for interior design
When choosing an interior design tool, consider the following:
- Your team’s size — If you’re a small team, look for a simple tool. If you’re a large design studio, consider a more comprehensive option.
- Features you need — Ensure the app includes project and task management, visualization options, and accounting features based on your requirements.
- Flexibility — If you often work remotely or on the go, you may need a mobile app, so be sure to check for that.
- Ease of use — If you’re not very tech-savvy, a simpler, more user-friendly platform may be a better choice. Consider your team as well — what tool would they adopt more easily?
- Budget — Not many interior design tools offer free plans, but there are significant differences in the cost of paid plans. Analyze the features included in each option to make the best choice.
My final tip is to always request a demo version of the app before making a final decision — these are usually available upon request. Alternatively, a lengthy trial period is a solid option too.
Take control of your interior design project with the right tool
Each app on this list offers a range of different features. Depending on what you’re looking for — accounting, design visualization, or project management options — with the right tool in place, your interior design business will thrive.
For those looking for project and task management features combined with ease of use and an intuitive design, Plaky is the perfect choice.
Apart from helping you take control of any interior design project, Plaky will also make sure you:
- Save time and money, and, most importantly,
- Stay on top of all tasks and deadlines.
Perfect your interior design workflow with the right tool. Get started with Plaky today!
