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A Look From the Inside: Good Rendering for Interior visualization

VERO prepared a working checklist on how to prepare a properly interior visualization task for a CG artist. Study it and make your interior design renderings perfect

Denis Balabaev Vero

by Denis Balabaev

Art Director

3D Rendering for Interior Design. Why do you need it?

Stunning visuals of a project go a long way to convincing a client and getting a deal over the line. Attractive architectural renders create a fantastic first impression, inspire confidence in a company’s expertise and help you get quick approvals.They are easy to share, immediately show a client what the completed result will look like, and can easily be altered to a client’s satisfaction. 3D interior renderings have therefore come to be the norm in what is a fiercely competitive market.

We are now well past the point of asking whether or not you need interior renderings. The question is now how to stand out from the crowd. Done right, they produce invaluable benefits for developers and clients alike. And therein lies the rub – they have to be done right. But in order to get to the how, we must first address the why.

When all is said and done, the purchase decision comes down to emotion - how a product makes the client feel. Never mind the back-and-forths, haggling, and negotiations. Research shows that at the end of the day, the purchase decision is predominantly an emotional one.

For the real estate market in particular, this strikes close to home. Before committing to such a heavy investment, a client wants to feel confident that this is what they really want. If all you have are plans and drawings, this won't do much for getting them to buy into the idea. Even worse, if you have poor or mediocre design renders, this would only serve to convince them that this is, in fact, not what they are looking for.

 Interior rendering for a competition project
Competition undisclosed project

So what elements of design renders push the right buttons and give you that crucial competitive edge?

Elements of Good Interior Design Rendering

To start with, the renders must be photorealistic. The best CG artists today stay on top of the latest technology and software programs that enable them to produce high-quality renders that are so compelling, they are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.

  • Realistic lighting

To achieve this, a good rendering needs to have an accurate representation of light. Light adds character and gives a setting its mood. Depending on the ambience you want to create, artificial light from overhead fixtures and spot lighting, or natural daylight can be manipulated to convey different feelings. A bedroom, for instance, could look cozy and warm, or a bright, clear, airy space can make a space look lively. The importance of making the right artistic choices and accurately depicting them cannot be overstated.

In this respect, the best CG artists do essentially the same thing photographers do. The etymology of the word bears this out – photography (photo + graphy) is literally “drawing with light.” So if you want to properly communicate the value of a property, you definitely need to hire professionals that can bring your concept to life.

Interior rendering for Duinparc project
Marketing project Duinparc, Hans Been architect
  • Real-world furniture, fittings, and other elements

To further enhance the realism of the rendering, it is important to use elements that are not just artistic creations, but can be implemented in real life. This makes your renders look more believable and also give clients an opportunity to see what the actual project could look like once completed. So furniture, colors, materials and fittings in your renderings need to be things that can be actualized.

Interiors for Lincoln Ventures
Marketing project Seton interiors for Lincoln Ventures
  • Detailed surface finishes

In addition to realistic lighting, and real-world furniture and fittings, attention to small details can make all the difference. The material properties of different surfaces should be accurately shown. Polished, glossy surfaces should gleam as they do in real life and their reflections must appropriately interact with the light sources in the scene. Likewise the visual representation of natural surfaces should also be correctly depicted.

Different Types of 3D Interior Rendering

Let's take a look at some of the most powerful ways of showcasing an interior design of a space that hasn't yet been constructed.

360 Panorama

A 360 panorama offers an immersive perspective that provides a realistic representation of the property's spatial layout. Viewers feel like they're placed in the middle of the arrangement, which gives them a better feel for the space. They can also zoom in and examine in great detail the different objects, such as the flooring and fittings. This way clients get a stronger sense of how the design elements come together to create a unified living space.

Interior Comparison

This technique enables viewers to compare different layouts, furniture arrangements, and color schemes side by side. The interior can be presented with daytime and nightime lighting to visualize how the layout will appear at various times throughout the day. This feature is useful when choosing the best option for an interior space.

3D Walkthrough

A walkthrough allows viewers to navigate through a space from a first-person perspective using high-quality renderings. Clients are free to move through rooms and hallways as they please and examine the interior design from various angles in fine detail. As a result, 3D walkthroughs offer an interactive way of understanding the design layout, lighting, decor, and the ambiance of the interior space. They are an effective way of helping clients visualize the design concept before the implementation starts.

Interior visualization for KAAP project
Marketing project KAAP, Orange Architects

Is there an Ideal Interior Design Rendering Process?

While there is a technical process that professional artists adhere to, design rendering is a results-based activity that should be tailored to a client’s needs. A one-size-fits-all approach will not make your project stand out from the crowd. You therefore want to steer clear of design rendering companies that employ this cookie-cutter approach to every project.

When selecting a company to visualize your project, you would be well-advised to look at their previous projects. This will show you not only their technical expertise, but also their artistic ability. The objective of design rendering is, after all, to create renders that are photo-realistic and technically accurate, but also attractive and persuasive. The renders should have the level of detail to create true photorealism, but should also reflect the unique character of each project.

Practical Advice on How to Make the Process Smooth

Communication is key. When all is said and done, every successful render is a successful marriage between a client's needs and a professional company’s experience and skills. Effective communication is therefore of prime importance over the course of the collaboration.

The design artist should have a clear understanding of the client’s requirements, what atmosphere they want to create, what kind of clients the renders should speak to, and details like what perspectives of the spaces they would like to show.

Once these goals are clearly communicated, the CG artist can make recommendations to ensure that the client gets the results they expect.

CG Artist Ideas
Download the Brief for free

Conclusion

In an increasingly competitive landscape, the benefits of interior design rendering are a critical success factor for architects and developers alike. They give clients confidence about the investment choice they are making, immediately visualize the completed project for them, and greatly influence the purchase decision.

However, to reap these rewards, the visualizations have to be photo-realistic, evoking the intended emotions in the target audience that the designed projects require. Getting the right professionals, with demonstrated experience, technical expertise, and artistic ability is therefore vital.

about the author

Denis Balabaev Vero

"Every project deserves a unique identity. Looking for it is the most exciting journey I can imagine"

Denis Balabaev is the Creative Director here at VERO, managing a team of 15 talented artists. This team is the heart of the company, a place where we create exciting hyper-realistic visualizations for architects and developers all over the... read more
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3D interior rendering

3D interior visualization

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