Some HDB layout tools start with a BTO floor plan. Others are better for rough 3D ideas, trying a new interior style or checking whether a queen bed leaves enough room to open the wardrobe. This guide compares eight options and explains where each one is genuinely useful.
Our selection method
A tool built around BTO templates should not be judged the same way as an AI room visualiser or a bedroom fit checker. We looked at the practical job each tool handles, how much setup it needs and where its limits become noticeable.
Disclosure: Lullaflex publishes this guide and runs the bedroom planner included below. We have been direct about the tasks it cannot handle. We checked the listed features, prices and free-plan limits on 13 August 2026; providers may change them later.
Side-by-side comparison
| Tool | Best for | Format | HDB fit | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qanvast BTO Layout Planner | Supported BTO estates and standard flat templates | Whole-flat 3D planner | High | Free |
| Planner 5D | Custom whole-home plans | 2D and 3D planner | Manual setup | Free tier |
| Lullaflex Bedroom Layout Planner | Mattress fit and bedroom clearance | 2D and 3D bedroom planner | Bedroom-specific | Free |
| BTOmyhome | Ready-made 3D models of specific BTO layouts | Downloadable SketchUp models | Estate-specific | Paid model; free SketchUp viewer |
| ElumiHome | AI room concepts from a photo of your existing space | AI room visualisation | Singapore-focused | One free redesign; paid plans |
| IKEA Planning Tools | IKEA furniture and storage | Room and product planners | Manual setup | Free |
| HomeByMe | Realistic whole-home visuals | 2D planning and 3D visuals | Manual setup | Limited free projects |
| SketchUp Free | Detailed custom 3D modelling | Browser-based 3D modeller | Build from scratch | Free for personal use |
Best for: Supported BTO estates and standard flat templates
Check Qanvast first if your BTO project is in its library. Starting from a familiar flat layout is much quicker than drawing every wall yourself. If your unit is not available, you will need to recreate it elsewhere because direct floor-plan uploads are not supported.
Best for: Custom whole-home plans
Planner 5D makes more sense when there is no ready-made template for your flat. You can enter the measurements, draw several rooms and switch to a 3D view. It takes longer to set up, but you are not tied to one estate or furniture catalogue.
Best for: Mattress fit and bedroom clearance
The Lullaflex planner helps you choose the right mattress size for your bedroom. Compare single, super single, queen and king layouts while checking door swing, wardrobe access, desk space and walking clearance. Use a whole-home tool if you need to plan the rest of the flat.
Best for: Ready-made 3D models of specific BTO layouts
If BTOmyhome has your project and unit type, buying the prepared model can save hours of tracing. Open it in SketchUp and start testing furniture or renovation ideas. The catch is simple: the model has to exist for your flat.
Best for: AI room concepts from a photo of your existing space
ElumiHome is for ideas, not precise measurements. Upload a photo when you want to see a room in a different style or get a rough sense of a renovation direction. Do not use the result to decide whether a piece of furniture physically fits.
Best for: IKEA furniture and storage
Planning to buy mostly from IKEA? Its own planners are the obvious place to start. You can test combinations of beds, wardrobes, storage and kitchen products, although the tool is naturally built around IKEA's catalogue.
Best for: Realistic whole-home visuals
HomeByMe suits people who care about how the finished space might look, not just where the walls go. It can handle a full home or one room, but you still need to enter the HDB dimensions and furniture sizes accurately.
Best for: Detailed custom 3D modelling
SketchUp gives you the most control and asks the most from you. It is powerful once you know how to build and move objects in 3D, but a guided room planner will be faster for a one-off furniture check.
Before you start
A typical room size is not good enough if you already have the floor plan for your block and unit.
Columns, recesses, door swing, windows, sockets and built-in wardrobes are usually what break a promising layout.
A queen mattress may fit while the headboard or storage bed around it does not.
A bed fitting inside four walls means little if the wardrobe cannot open or the path to the door disappears.
Use the planner to narrow down ideas, then confirm the final dimensions and technical details with the relevant professionals.
Frequently asked questions
Try Qanvast first if it includes your BTO project. Use Planner 5D when you need to draw the whole flat yourself. If you only need to check a mattress and bedroom layout, the Lullaflex planner is quicker and more focused.
Use a bedroom planner with Singapore mattress sizes. Enter the outer size of the bed frame too, then check the door swing, wardrobe access and the walkway around the bed.
No. These tools are useful for early furniture and space planning. They do not check structural, electrical, plumbing, fire-safety or renovation requirements.
Planning a bedroom?
Build your room in 2D, preview it in 3D and compare Singapore mattress sizes before you buy.
Open the free bedroom planner