Using VR in interior design
One of our clients, Focus4Hope, viewing the 3D model of their new Community Hub space using the VR headset
In the last few years, virtual reality (VR) has made a giant leap from the world of gaming and entertainment into more practical and personal applications. One of the most exciting ways it's being used today is in interior design. Whether you're planning a full home renovation, redecorating a single room, or updating a commercial space such as an office or restaurant, VR can transform how you visualise and plan your environment. This technology enables you to step into a fully immersive 3D model of your new interior, helping you to make smarter, more confident design decisions before spending a penny on materials or furnishings.
Studio 15 Interiors is excited to bring you this technology as an additional service, alongside your interior design project.
What is Virtual Reality in Interior Design?
Virtual reality, in the context of interior design, refers to the use of 3D digital models that you can explore through a VR headset. These models can replicate the look and feel of a space, complete with furniture, colour schemes, lighting, window treatments and accessories. With VR, you don't just look at your potential new living room or office layout on a flat piece of paper or a computer screen; you can walk through it, turn around, look up at the ceiling, or down at the floor, and see how everything fits together.
This immersive experience bridges the gap between imagination and reality. Where once you had to rely solely on mood boards, fabric swatches, and your imagination, you can now see exactly what your choices will look like in context.
View some of our recently created 3D models on YouTube
The Benefits of Using VR in Interior Design
1. Visualise Before You Commit
Perhaps the most immediate and powerful benefit of VR is the ability to see your design before making any financial commitments. This is particularly useful for:
Understanding how different colours and materials will work together.
Assessing how much natural light a room receives and how it affects the ambience.
Determining whether furniture fits comfortably within a space.
Trying out multiple layouts quickly without any physical effort.
Being able to walk through your design in 3D and see the effect of your choices in real time can prevent costly mistakes and help you feel more secure in your decisions.
For commercial spaces, this is especially valuable as it helps stakeholders see how the design supports workflows, customer experience, and brand identity.
2. Enhanced Communication with Designers and Contractors
Another significant advantage is improved communication. When clients and designers can both view the same 3D environment, it eliminates much of the confusion that can arise from 2D plans or verbal descriptions. It becomes much easier to express what you like or dislike, and changes can be made on the fly, dramatically speeding up the design process.
VR also aids communication with contractors, as they can see exactly what is expected. This can help avoid misinterpretations and ensure that the final result matches your vision.
In commercial projects, clear visualisation helps teams of decision-makers align on a single vision, streamlining approval processes and reducing delays.
3. Experimentation Without Risk
With VR, experimenting with bold design choices becomes much less daunting. Want to see how a dark navy wall colour works in your north-facing bedroom or how a biophilic design scheme enhances your office? Curious about mixing materials in your restaurant’s bar area? You can test it all in VR without lifting a paintbrush or buying a single fixture. This opens up a world of creative possibilities and can encourage you to be more adventurous in your design choices.
4. Save Time and Money
Traditional design revisions can be time-consuming and costly. Every time you want to change something, it involves new technical drawings, consultations, and potentially wasted materials. VR streamlines this process, allowing the designer to make changes to the 3D model quickly and see the results more quickly than when amending technical drawings. This efficiency not only saves time but could also significantly reduce your overall project costs.
For businesses, this means faster fit-outs, less downtime, and a quicker return on investment.
5. Convenience
Thanks to developments in technology, VR tools are becoming more affordable and easier to use. Studio 15 Interiors now offers a VR design service to clients. Once the 3D model has been created, our interior designer meets with you and helps you to view the immersive 3D model using our VR headset.
Who Can Benefit Most from VR in Interior Design?
While virtually anyone planning a design project can benefit from VR, there are some groups who may find it particularly useful:
Homeowners embarking on renovations: Seeing the end result before beginning demolition or construction can provide peace of mind.
First-time buyers: Those with less experience in visualising space can gain confidence and clarity.
Real estate professionals and developers: VR can be used to stage properties or show potential buyers how an unfinished space could look.
Commercial project managers: From office redesigns to restaurant renovations, VR allows you to test layouts for functionality and aesthetics.
People with accessibility needs: VR can help ensure that design plans are truly functional for everyone by simulating real-world navigation in a space.
The Role of 3D Imaging in Bringing Designs to Life
3D imaging is the foundation of VR interior design. It involves creating a digital model that accurately represents the physical dimensions and features of a space. This model can then be enhanced with textures, lighting effects, and furniture to create a lifelike simulation.
Through 3D imaging, you can:
Rotate and zoom in on specific design elements.
Walk through a virtual version of your home, office, or hospitality venue.
Understand how light, shadows, and colours interact throughout the day.
Compare different design options side-by-side.
This level of visualisation is particularly helpful when deciding between similar options. For example, two styles of meeting room configurations or restaurant table arrangements may seem equally viable on paper, but reveal very different dynamics when experienced in VR.
Additional Benefits
Increased Confidence in Decision-Making
Making choices about your home or business environment can be stressful, especially when those choices are permanent or expensive. VR reduces uncertainty by allowing you to see and experience your space before committing. This leads to more confident decision-making and, ultimately, greater satisfaction with the end result.
Greater Emotional and Professional Connection
There’s something profoundly satisfying about walking through your future home or office before it exists. It creates an emotional connection to the project, making the process more engaging and exciting. For commercial clients, it can also reinforce brand identity and company values from the start.
Sustainability
VR can also contribute to more sustainable design practices. By perfecting a design virtually before physical work begins, there’s less likelihood of waste from changing materials or layouts midway through a project. This is not only better for the environment but can also reduce unnecessary spending.
Collaborative Opportunities
If you’re working on a design with family members, roommates, colleagues, or business partners, VR makes collaboration easier. Everyone can tour the proposed space and offer feedback, ensuring that all voices are heard before decisions are finalised.
In summary, virtual reality is reshaping the interior design landscape for both residential and commercial projects. It empowers you to visualise, experiment, and collaborate like never before! All while saving time, money, and stress.
Whether you’re remodelling a single room, redesigning your office, or launching a new restaurant, VR offers a smart, forward-thinking way to bring your dream space to life.
So, if you're about to start redecorating or renovating, consider contacting Studio 15 Interiors and find out more about our Virtual Reality interior design service.
