How to use Planner 5D for beginners?
Planner 5D offers 5,000+ furniture and decor objects. Sounds cool? In practice, 89% of beginners use only 20–30 basic items in their first projects. Everything else is just noise.
This choice paradox breaks more users than any technical difficulty. You open the catalog, see an endless list of sofas, armchairs, lamps — and don’t know where to start. A 2024 analysis showed: those who start with ready-made templates finish their first project in 45 minutes. Those who try to learn all functions at once — quit after 2 hours without creating anything.
The problem isn’t Planner 5D. The problem is the approach. Most people open the app and think: “I need to figure everything out before I start.” Wrong. The right approach: “I need to make something simple right now, then learn details.”
Below I’ll show a system that turns the chaos of thousands of features into a clear three-level path. No fluff, no “learn the interface” — straight to action.
Three-step system: how not to drown in features
Planner 5D doesn’t have a single learning curve. It has three separate stages, and trying to skip the first is the main reason people quit.
Level 1: Explorer (0–5 hours practice)
Goal of this stage: Create the first completed project using a ready-made template.
Here you DO NOT create a layout from scratch. You take a ready room and modify it. It sounds like a “light” version, but in fact this is how professionals work — they also rarely start from a blank canvas.
What you’ll master:
Navigating the interface (where things are)
Moving objects in 2D mode
Basic understanding of the catalog (furniture, decor, lighting)
Switching between 2D and 3D views
Saving and exporting results
Criterion to move to Level 2: You have one fully finished project you can show or use for real purposes.
Typical beginner mistake: trying to design the whole apartment right away. Don’t do that. One room. At most two. Finish the project to the end, even if the result isn’t perfect.
Level 2: Architect (5–15 hours practice)
Goal of this stage: Create a layout from scratch using the exact measurements of the real space.
At this level you start building walls, not just placing furniture. Measurements are critical — if you’re designing a real room, measure it with a tape. Approximate “by eye” dimensions will produce a project that can’t be implemented.
What you’ll master:
Wall and room creation tool
Working with dimensions and proportions
3D navigation and viewing the space from different angles
Textures and materials (floor, walls, ceiling)
Windows and doors with correct placement
Criterion to move to Level 3: You created a project without using templates, and the layout matches the real room dimensions (if designing a real space).
Many get stuck here because of technical details. For example, a window won’t sit right, or a wall is built in the wrong place. That’s normal. The Undo function is your best friend. Don’t be afraid to experiment and revert changes.
Level 3: Designer (15+ hours practice)
Goal of this stage: Produce professional-quality visualizations for presentations or a portfolio.
Here you start working on details that turn a “layout” into a “design.” HD rendering, lighting setup, custom materials, complex multi-room projects.
What you’ll master:
High-resolution rendering
Advanced lighting (natural + artificial)
Creating realistic scenes
Working with multiple floors
Export for presentations and print
Mastery criterion: Your projects are used to make real decisions — renovation, buying furniture, presenting to clients.
Most beginners do not need this level. If you just want to visualize ideas for your apartment, Level 2 is more than enough.
First 60 minutes: what to do right now
Enough theory. Here’s a concrete action plan to create your first project.
Step 1: Sign up and choose the platform (5 minutes)
Go to planner5d.com or download the app. For the first project I recommend the web version — the interface is bigger, controls are easier.
Registration is free. Don’t worry about Premium now — the basic version is enough for the first 3–5 projects.
Step 2: Open the template gallery (2 minutes)
After registering DO NOT press “Create new project”. Instead:
Click “Gallery”
In filters choose “Bedroom” or “Living Room”
Find a project similar to your room by size and shape
Why a template and not from scratch? Because you’ll see how a project is structured from the inside. It’s like learning to cook from a recipe, not inventing a dish from zero.
Step 3: Clone the template (1 minute)
Found a project? Great.
Open it
Click the three dots (⋮) in the top right
Choose “Clone”
Now you have a working copy. Changes won’t affect the original.
Step 4: First edits in 2D mode (15 minutes)
You’ll enter edit mode. Make sure 2D mode is enabled (toggle usually at the top).
Try this:
Click any furniture item — it will be selected
Drag it to another place — it moves
Click it again — rotation options appear
Click the cross in the object menu — it deletes
Add a new object:
On the left find the catalog (furniture icon)
Pick a category, e.g. “Beds”
Click any bed — it appears in the scene
Drag it to where you want
Don’t look for perfect furniture. Just add the first thing you see. The goal is to learn mechanics, not to create a masterpiece.
Step 5: Switch to 3D (10 minutes)
After a couple of changes in 2D:
Click the “3D” toggle at the top
Use the mouse to orbit the view (hold and drag)
Inspect the space from all sides
In 3D you’ll see how the room actually looks. Often what seemed fine in 2D looks odd in 3D (too close to a wall, object too big, etc.).
Important detail: you CANNOT edit the project in 3D (view only). To change anything, go back to 2D.
Step 6: Save the project (2 minutes)
Click “Save” at the top-right
Name the project, e.g. “My first bedroom test”
Make sure it saved (it will appear in your project list)
Step 7: Take a snapshot (5 minutes)
Now export the result:
In 3D find the “Snapshot” button
Choose the angle you like
Click the camera icon
In the free version there will be a Planner 5D watermark — that’s normal. You’ll get an image you can share or save.
Congrats: you just completed the full Planner 5D cycle. From opening to export. It took about an hour, and now you understand how the app works.
Critical Level 1 skills: what to learn next
After the first project you’ll have questions. Here are the most common skills to master at the Explorer level.
Navigating the catalog: how not to get lost
The Planner 5D catalog is huge, and that’s the problem. Structure:
Main categories:
Furniture — tables, chairs, beds, wardrobes
Décor — paintings, pillows, vases, plants
Lighting — chandeliers, lamps, sconces
Miscellaneous — appliances, plumbing fixtures, accessories
Inside each category there are subcategories. For example, Furniture → Living room → Sofas.
Efficiency trick: Don’t try to browse everything. Use search (magnifier at the top of the catalog). Need a sofa? Type “sofa” — you’ll get sofas only.
Changing color/material of objects
Many beginners don’t know most objects can be recolored:
Select an object (click it)
In the object menu find the palette icon
Choose a new color or texture
Not all objects allow color change — it depends on how they were created. If it doesn’t work, try another item.
Working with layers: floor and walls
Want to change flooring or wallpaper?
Switch to 2D
Click empty floor space (not furniture)
A material menu appears
Pick parquet, laminate, tile — anything
Same logic for walls — click a wall, choose material or color.
Important: Not all materials are available in the free version. Premium items are marked with a crown icon.
Object dimensions: how to resize
By default all objects have standard sizes. To change:
Select the object
In the menu find size parameters (Width, Height, Depth)
Edit numbers manually
Reality: Most newbies don’t change dimensions and use defaults. That’s fine for early projects.
Copying objects: save time
Need six identical chairs around a table?
Place one chair
Right-click it
Choose “Copy”
Paste as many copies as needed
Much faster than searching the catalog for the same chair six times.
Moving to Level 2: when and why to build from scratch
You’re ready for Architect level when:
You completed 2–3 template-based projects
You know where the main tools are
You want to design a specific real room
Creating the first room from scratch
Click “Create new project” → choose “Start from scratch”.
Don’t panic — you have an empty space.
Step 1: Create the room perimeter
Find the “Wall” tool on the left
Click a point — start of wall
Click another point — end of wall
Create four walls, closing the perimeter
Step 2: Set dimensions
Click any wall
Its length appears in the menu
Enter the real size in meters or feet
If designing a real room, measure with a tape. Approximate sizes are OK only for conceptual projects.
Step 3: Add windows and doors
Window and Door tools on the left
Click the wall where window/door should be
Drag the object to the right place along the wall
Step 4: Adjust floor and ceiling
Click the floor — choose material
Ceiling height is in room parameters (usually Room Settings)
After that the room is ready for furnishing. The process is the same as Level 1.
Common problems when building from scratch
Problem 1: Walls are created in the wrong place
Solution: Use the grid — it helps align walls. Turn it on with the checkbox at the top.
Problem 2: Window “sinks” oddly into the wall
Solution: Every window has a placement height from the floor. Check the object parameters and adjust the height.
Problem 3: Door opens the wrong way
Solution: Select the door → find “Swing direction” → change it.
Problem 4: Room size doesn’t match reality
Solution: Click the wall and check numbers. Make sure units are correct (meters vs feet).
Free vs Premium: an honest comparison
Most common question: “Do I need Premium?”
Short answer: For Level 1 and the start of Level 2 — no.
What’s available for free (and plenty of it):
Catalog: 3,000+ objects (not 5,000+, but still huge)
Projects: unlimited
2D and 3D modes: full access
Basic rendering: can take normal-quality snapshots
Cloud saving: all projects saved to your account
What’s locked in free version:
Premium objects: ~2,000 items marked with a crown
HD snapshots: watermark-free, high-res images
Advanced export: formats for 3D printing, technical drawings, etc.
Priority support: faster responses
When paying makes sense:
You’re at Level 3 (Designer) and need HD renders for clients
You’re doing a serious renovation and want professional visualizations for contractors
You need specific premium objects (a particular designer piece)
When you don’t need Premium:
You’re just experimenting with apartment ideas
You’re still in Level 1–2
Basic snapshots suffice for personal use
Tip: Use the free version for at least one month. If you create 5+ projects and hit limits — then consider Premium. They often have trials.
Five mistakes 90% of beginners make
Mistake 1: Start by learning the interface
Many open Planner 5D and try to “understand everything” before doing anything. They click every menu, every button.
Why it’s bad: After 20 minutes your head is buzzing, nothing sticks, motivation falls.
Right way: Open a template and start changing. You’ll remember functions by doing, not by studying.
Mistake 2: Immediately design a complex space
“I’ll design a whole 3-room apartment!” Ambitious but doomed.
Why it’s bad: Complex projects take hours. A beginner faces dozens of technical issues, gets lost, quits.
Right way: One room. Max two. Finish a project fully, from start to export. Then scale up.
Mistake 3: Ignore real measurements
Placing furniture “by eye” without measuring. The project looks nice in Planner 5D but the bed won’t fit in real life.
Why it’s bad: If the project is for a real renovation, inaccurate sizes make it useless.
Right way: If designing a real room — measure it with a tape. Enter exact numbers in Planner 5D. Not “about 4 meters,” but exactly 4.25 m.
Mistake 4: Search for the perfect catalog item
Beginners spend 15 minutes looking for the “perfect sofa,” browsing 200 variants, can’t choose.
Why it’s bad: You waste time on details that don’t affect overall layout.
Right way: Pick the first object that fits the size. Keep working. Return to details later if needed.
Mistake 5: Not switching between 2D and 3D
Work only in 2D, rarely checking 3D “to see the result.”
Why it’s bad: 2D doesn’t show critical issues — furniture too close, overlapping objects, odd proportions.
Right way: Work in 2D, but every 5–10 minutes switch to 3D to check. Found a problem in 3D → go back to 2D to fix it.
What to do after the first three projects
You made 2–3 projects and learned basics. What next?
Option 1: Deepen the details (for perfectionists)
If you want to make projects visually beautiful:
Learn lighting (how to position lamps for realism)
Master textures and materials (wood, stone, fabric)
Try different interior styles (minimalism, Scandinavian, classic)
Learning resources:
Official Planner 5D YouTube channel (short tutorials)
Planner 5D Gallery (see how others solved similar problems)
Forums and Reddit (r/InteriorDesign often mentions Planner 5D)
Option 2: Use for real purposes (for practitioners)
If the goal is practical:
Plan an actual renovation
Show projects to contractors or a designer
Use to choose furniture (place an item in the project and see how it fits)
Tip: Keep multiple versions of a project, e.g., “Bedroom option 1”, “Bedroom option 2”. This lets you compare ideas without losing work.
Option 3: Experiment (for creatives)
Forget reality. Create fantasy spaces:
Spaceship
Castle
Futuristic office
Dream house without budget limits
Why: Free experiments help you learn functions faster than strict realistic projects.
From project to real life: integration
Planner 5D is not just a toy. Here’s how to turn projects into actions.
Planning furniture purchases
Process:
Create a project of your real room (with exact dimensions)
Find furniture in the catalog similar to what you plan to buy
Place it and view in 3D
Evaluate: does it fit? Does it harmonize with the rest?
Real example: choosing an IKEA sofa. Before the store trip add it to the project (IKEA lists dimensions). See that it’s too big for your living room? You saved time and money.
Coordinating with contractors
If renovating:
Create a BEFORE project (current state)
Create an AFTER project (desired result)
Take snapshots of both
Show contractor: “this is what I have, this is what I want”
This removes misunderstandings. “Make a modern kitchen” can mean many things. Visualization is specific.
Experimenting with colors and styles
Unsure about wall color? Make 3–4 versions with different colors. View in 3D and compare.
Tip: Save snapshots of all variants and show friends/family. A fresh pair of eyes often notices what you missed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Planner 5D be used offline?
Yes, but with limitations. Mobile apps (iOS, Android) allow offline work after the first online launch. The web version requires an internet connection. Projects sync between devices via cloud only when online.
How long does it take to create a room project?
Depends on complexity and skill. Beginner with a template — 30–60 minutes. Beginner from scratch — 1.5–2 hours. Experienced user from scratch — 20–40 minutes. Professional visualization with details — 2–4 hours. But “finish a project” ≠ “reach perfection.” You can work on a project forever adding details.
Does Planner 5D run on a weak PC or old phone?
The web version is undemanding — it runs on most PCs from the last 5–7 years. Mobile apps are heavier, especially in 3D. On phones older than 3–4 years it may lag. Recommendation: if your phone is weak, use the web version on a computer.
Can I import floor plans or drawings?
Not in the free version. Premium allows importing 2D plans in PDF and PNG to use as a base. But for most beginners it’s easier to create the layout manually.
How to share a project with a friend or designer?
The simplest: take a snapshot and send the image. For full access: open the project → click “Share” → copy the link → send it. The receiver can open it in their browser but can’t edit (view only). For collaborative editing you need Premium.
Are there built-in styles or color schemes?
No one-click “style” button. You combine furniture, colors and textures yourself. But in the Gallery you can find projects in various styles (Scandinavian, minimalism, loft, etc.), clone them and use as a base.
Can I export a shopping list of furniture?
Premium includes export of object lists with dimensions. In free version you’ll have to note objects manually. Alternative: screenshot the catalog items and names.
What if the project won’t save?
Common causes: internet issues (web version), browser cache overflow, Planner 5D server maintenance. Solution: check connection, try another browser, clear cache. If nothing helps — contact support via the official site.
Final checklist: you’re ready to start
Read everything but still procrastinating? Concrete actions for the next 60 minutes:
Right now:
Sign up at planner5d.com (3 minutes)
Open Gallery, find a bedroom template (2 minutes)
Clone it and move 3–4 objects (10 minutes)
Switch to 3D and inspect (5 minutes)
Take a snapshot and save to your computer (3 minutes)
Within a week:
Create 1–2 more template-based projects (30–40 minutes each)
Try adding catalog objects not present in the template
Change wall and floor colors
Share results with someone (just for practice)
Within a month:
Try building one room from scratch
Use real measurements if designing a real space
Decide whether you need Premium (most likely you don’t)
The three-step system works only if you start. Reading is not skill. Skill = action + repetition.
Over 90+ million Planner 5D users succeeded. You will too. But only if you open the app right now, not “later.”
Key takeaways
The choice paradox is real: 5,000 objects paralyze. Use 20–30 basics to start.
The three-step system prevents drowning: Explorer (0–5 h) → Architect (5–15 h) → Designer (15+ h).
Start from a template, not a blank canvas. It’s 3× faster and more effective for learning.
A first project in 60 minutes is possible: clone → edit → view in 3D → export.
Free version is enough for the first months. Premium is for HD renders and professional use.
Switch between 2D and 3D every 5–10 minutes. Work in 2D, check in 3D.
Action matters more than studying. Don’t spend hours “understanding the interface.” Open and start doing.