Hands up if you want to master interior design software quickly so you can work smarter, not harder! Who doesn’t want those perfectly polished 3D renders and seamless floor plans? It might feel like you need these skills yesterday to keep up with client expectations (or teacher expectations for you students!). You may have even spent hours on YouTube, downloaded countless tutorials, or tried software without a real plan.
In this post, I’ll cover four rookie mistakes that can seriously slow down your progress with software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, Photoshop, and more. So grab your coffee and favorite sketchbook, and let’s dive in!
Mistake #1: Skipping Learning Core Skills and Ignoring Fundamental Principles
It’s easy to feel like the faster you jump into a complex project, the sooner you’ll master SketchUp or AutoCAD. But here’s the deal: skipping the basics often leads to messy drawings or models and frustrations down the line.
What is a “clean file”? Before we get too far, let’s break down what we mean by a “clean file.” Simply put, a clean file is organized and easy to edit. In Sketchup, this might mean correctly grouped elements and an efficient tag structure. In AutoCAD, this might mean good use of blocks and organized layers. In Photoshop, this could also mean named and organized layers.
Designers who know the core skills and fundamental principles of the software they’re using will end up with clean files. On the other hand, if you skip these basics, you can end up with messy files. They might look good-ish from a distance, but diving in, they can cause a lot of problems. Messy files can slow you down unnecessarily, give you some overwhelming headaches when you run into problems, and just make you ineffective and inefficient.
So learn the basics to create clean files!
For you, that means:
- Smoother edits: You can change elements easily without disrupting the entire model.
- Faster loading times: No more waiting for large files to process every minor edit.
- Greater accuracy: Avoid errors and improve visual accuracy.
Mistake #2: Overloading Your Model or Drawing with Too Many Details Early On
Let’s say interior designer, Sarah, wanted to create 3D visuals of a cozy home office space for her client using SketchUp. She was all set up but started by modeling (or sourcing a model for) every tiny item—lamps, pencils, plant pots—right from the get-go. The rookie mistake? She focused on the little things before getting the overall design and layout in place.
Instead of setting up the main components of the space first, she got bogged down in small details. Sound familiar? This is where less is more. SketchUp works best when you establish the main elements first, like walls, windows, and doors, and add smaller decor pieces only after the essentials are in place. A client won’t care if you modeled a beautifully styled bookshelf, if they otherwise have no idea what the design involves.
Similarly, in AutoCAD, if you suddenly start populating a floor plan with a bunch of downloaded blocks when the windows aren’t even drawn, you’ll end up with an amateur drawing that has heavy detail on things like plants or electronics and missing elements in the core structure.
This mistake happens because:
- It is tempting to “decorate” right away without laying down foundational elements.
- It feels satisfying to see immediate “finishing” touches, even though the basics aren’t done.
- It feels like you’re making progress, but you’re really just adding quick and easy elements.
Have you been guilty of this? Don’t worry—it’s an easy fix! Prioritize layout and basic structure first, and save the fun, detailed work for later.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Shortcuts
There are so many tools and functions in SketchUp, AutoCAD, and Photoshop that it can feel overwhelming. Some people avoid learning shortcuts, thinking they’re just “extras” and only for experts not beginners. However, these time-savers can seriously boost productivity.
This mistake is so common because:
- It can feel easier to click buttons, even if it’s slower.
- Shortcuts seem like a hassle to learn at first.
- Tutorials often show buttons instead of shortcuts because it’s a more visual demonstration.
What to do instead: Take 5–10 minutes a day to learn one new shortcut. Your future self will thank you!
Mistake #4: Not Organizing Your Layers (Tags) and Groups/Blocks
This relates to mistake #1 but it’s worth reiterating again! Imagine building a house without organizing all your tools and materials —chaos, right? It’s similar when creating files in interior design software. Creating digital models in SketchUp, drawing files in AutoCAD, or visual illustrations in Photoshop can all be benefitted from organization when it comes to layers, tags, groups, and/or blocks. Forgetting to organize your elements using tags (or layers) and groups can lead to confusing files that are hard to navigate and edit. (This is especially true if you ever work on the same file as someone else!)
I’ve seen plenty of beginners skip this step, thinking they’ll remember what’s where or that they don’t need “all that organization.” But trust me, by the time your model is halfway complete, knowing where each element lives is essential.
Here’s why you want to avoid this:
- Efficiency – Changes are faster and easier when each part is labeled.
- Flexibility – You can hide and show tags or layers as needed, focusing only on what’s necessary.
- Speed – Cleaner files take less time to render and edit.
What to do instead: Organize as you go. Use groups/components or blocks to keep elements distinct and easily editable. Add to layers or tags to help control visibility and editability. It may take an extra minute upfront, but it will save you hours in the end.
Mastering Interior Design Software Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming
When I first started with these programs, I felt like I’d never master it all. But once I adopted this strategy of focusing on core skills then building up my own workflows, suddenly all interior design software became not only usable but a real asset in my own design communications.
Want to learn interior design software without making these mistakes?
Core Skills + Workflows is how I structure my courses. So if you’re looking to learn these programs without making these mistakes, join me. AutoCAD for Interior Designers (available now!) and Sketchup for Interior Designers (coming soon!) will walk you through practical and efficient ways of learning this software.
No matter what remember, mastering these tools takes time, and every step you take will get you closer to the level of design you’re aiming for. Learn interior design software efficiently and avoid the rookie mistakes of skipping fundamentals, overloading details, ignoring shortcuts, and not organizing tags and groups. You’ll thank yourself later, I promise!