Remodel and Renovation
Interior Design
Feb 17, 2023

The Difference Between Floor Plans, 3D Renderings and Exterior Elevations

The Difference Between Floor Plans, 3D Renderings and Exterior Elevations

Have you ever been confused about the differences between floor plans, 3D renderings, and exterior elevations? All three are useful tools when planning or designing a residential or commercial property. 

Floor Plans

Floor plans provide a two-dimensional representation of a space from a bird's eye view. They include detailed measurements of rooms and features such as windows, doorways, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, and more. Floor plans are an important part of the design process for any kind of building as they can help architects and engineers to visualize the interior spaces before construction begins. 

3D Renderings

3D renderings create a realistic view of what a space might look like after it is completed. By using advanced computer software, designers are able to quickly create 3D visualizations that can give clients an idea of what their project could look like when finished. This can be especially helpful if there are changes made during construction as 3D renders provide an updated visualization during every step of the process. 

Exterior Elevations

Exterior elevations focus on the outside view of a building by providing side and front views along with roof lines and other details that may not be visible in a floor plan or 3D rendering. Exterior elevations are used to convey the overall physical appearance of the building to architects, engineers, contractors and others involved in the design process. They typically show where stairs, porches, decks, balconies and other architectural decorations will be located on the final building structure. 

Overall, floor plans provide basic blueprints while 3D renderings offer extra visual effects that can help bring designs to life while exterior elevations give an upfront bird’s eye view showing dimensions, materials and texture options all in one place. Each tool has its own unique purpose but together they make up some powerful tools to have in any design process!