MyVirtualHome for Windows

Used MyVirtualHome for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffFebruary 21, 2024

MyVirtualHome provides an amazing collection of tools for designing a 3D replica of any home. While there's virtually no limit to what MyVirtualHome can do toward that goal, it has difficulties that might alienate those without architectural or home-building experience.

The program's interface looks inviting, with a professional design and easy access to helpful tutorials. However, we found the controls to be almost too freely structured since there are practically no guidelines to follow. As novices, we either had too much freedom or not enough with our designs. MyVirtualHome gives you a great deal of options. We were able to cycle through various building materials like doors, walls, windows, and cabinets, and decorate our virtual home with furniture chosen from images of brand-name sofas, televisions, and the like by simply clicking and dragging our choices. However, our home never looked quite right since we knew nothing about spacing and dimensions. MyVirtualHome offers various prefabricated floor plans, but these felt too rigid and impersonal. The program does have a neat feature that lets you walk through your house in a 3D simulation that looks a lot like a video game. Overall, MyVirtualHome felt as if it would be perfect for architects, interior designers, contractors, and others with home-building experience, but not much help to homeowners.

MyVirtualHome is freeware. It leaves folders behind after uninstalling. While it offers an impressive collection of tools, designing something functional is difficult, and its greatest appeal will be to professionals. However, we still recommend this program.

What’s new in version 4.0

Version 2.1 includes a smaller download, moving water in pools, and faster multi core rendering features and real houses directly within the menu system.

MyVirtualHome for Windows

Used MyVirtualHome for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: December 23, 2009

Latest update: February 21, 2024

Version: 4.0

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 10
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows XP

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 80,665

Downloads Last Week: 4

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.4/5

7 User Votes

Spyware - browser hijack & unpermitted extension
professionaltingsAugust 4, 2013
Pros
haven't used the software yet
Cons
before i had even used this program it was installing spyware after i declined any additional software to be installed, is this even legal? in fact the changes to my browser were made 1 second after i pressed the last decline button on the installer, AFTER confirming i DID NOT agree to any crap being installed (chrome closed down automatically and showed up when i reopened), before the "program had finished downloading, was this the trusted Cnet installing this junk on to my comp?!?!??! My browser was redirected to a new search engine and my new tab page was hijacked with an extension that can access my browsing history and all my bookmarks. The software probably is Certified spyware free as it appears Cnet is installing it
Summary
The software probably is Certified spyware free as it appears Cnet is installing the junk
Clumsy, Hard to Edit, you sign up for an account
kbumApril 11, 2011
Pros
If you're not the creative type and only want to piece together various rooms into an ensemble, then this will work for you.
Cons
Not for creative types who want open spaces and a variety of ceiling heights.
Summary
Not worth the time to download it.
A 5 star program if it were available offline
territorianFebruary 16, 2010
Pros
? Easy to use ? Freeware ? Extremely reaslistic graphics ? Upgraded and improved regularly ? Uses real products available in Aus. ? New products added regularly ? Some degree of customisability
Cons
? One major problem: You can only access and use the program online and their server stinks. It is down frequently and for lengthy periods at a time. ? Even your own drawings inaccessible when their server is down ? Frustrating & inconvenient access
Summary
This program could easily be a 5 star program if only it were available offline as well as online. Once (and if) one gets access it is truly exceptional. It is so detailed and realistic that one can see that there are phillips head screws in the door hinges. The program is very easy to install and use. You don't need to be Computer wizard or an architect to use it affectively. Once you have played with it for a bit you discover that it really is quite intuitive. 3 views of the drawing are available: a Plan view, a 3D view from above (with adjustable angles of view) and a Walk through view with head height adjustable. One can move freely between the views as the drawing progresses. One can choose a geographical location and the positioning of North to enable realistic lightmapping. The shadows are quite realistic and lighting can be viewed at different times of the day/night. There are generic products, but many products are are from Australian manufacturers, and many of these are well known manufacturers such as Resene & Wattyl Paints, Laminex & Formica, Beaumont Tiles, Austral Bricks, Colorbond, OneSteel, Cavalier Bremworth Carpets, Endless Spas, Imperialware, JVC, Panasonic, Sony, etc. The list of manufacturers is constantly growing and has 1000's of real products available, many with an extremely wide selection of choices. Landscaping products such as fences, trees and plants, pools and sheds are also available. Some degree of customising is also available through the use of resizable blocks. Although this is a little cumbersome it is quite effective. The program does not have everything that everyone wants, however, since it is constantly being upgraded it includes more and more of people's wishlists, and let's face it, no program is ever going to have ALL the producst that everyone wants. I doubt that you could find a more realistic program nor one that has so many options. However, there is currently one major drawback to using the program. One must log on to their MVH server in order to use the program or even to access the drawings that you have completed or are working on. Their server has to be one of the worst I have encountered. It is frequently down and down often for lengthy periods of time. Despite requests from a number of users for at least some offline use of the product they have chosen to stay with online use only. So if you are liable to suffer health effects from the frustration of frequently not being to access your drawings or having the server go down in the middle of what you are doing before you had a chance to save it I could not recommend this program. Nor could I recommend it to anyone who is designing and building a new home or renovating and require reliable access to your drawings. However, if this unreliable access is something you can live with, then go ahead. When its accessible you won't find a better product.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Feb 16, 2010<p/>W? in the above review were supposed to be dots.
Excellent beginner-friendly home design software
Airwings4January 22, 2010
Pros
+ Very easy to use. No arcitectural experience needed + Freeware + Features a wide range of items which can be greatly customized + Visually appealing
Cons
+ Lacks a bit in terms of control permited + Some minor bugs + Requires an active internet connection
Summary
My Virtual Home 2 is a really nice piece of software, considering it is completely free to use. The initial download file is rather small, but additional content is downloaded as one uses the software, which means an Internet connection is necessary to be able to work on MVH. The controls are very easy to get used to and even though they may not allow for creating any shape imaginable for a house, they offer an acceptable degree of freedom. The visuals are also pretty good. The program supports a lightmapping procedure, which will add realism to the house interior when applied.
Amazing Software!!!!!!!!
Geek400January 5, 2010
Pros
The software is just too easy to use. Really easy.
Cons
Non that I could find.
Summary
Get it if you are new to design softwares or just want something really simple to use and have fun!
"Knock em out stuff!"
phixoSeptember 13, 2009
Pros
Get a home building, decorating or furnishing project up and running in minutes without the brain strain of CAD! Products look real and you get everything togther in virtual context....paint, carpet, kitchen benches, exterior bricks....you name it!
Cons
You'll be so absorbed in your home reno projects with MyVirtualHome - you may miss some time in front of the TV :)
Summary
FREE to use! You'd pay a motza for this if they put a price tag on it when compared with equivalent software programs in the consumer or commercial spaces. Always "room for improvement" with software but MyVirtualHome is a really useful visualisation tool that I use daily.
Easy design software that allows a 3D walk through WOW!
geoffcrookSeptember 13, 2009
Pros
Really easy to use and gives you incredible results in only minutes and then when you have finished your design and do the light mapping to put all the shadows and textures in that bring out the details it looks so realistic its incredible. Thumbs up
Cons
If you are on a low spec computer with a low end graphics card the results wont be as stunning but this program is still worth it for the design features alone. Those with out a stable internet connection may find this frustrating as it needs access.
Summary
This program is revolutionary it that it is FREE to the consumer and because it is internet driven means that the applications functionality and the products in it are updated as quickly as the manufacturers are able to put them in so I'm able to see the products that are available now and see if they will work in my new design or my existing house and see what I may need to change before I commit to buying that product. It is such a handy tool to assess the design and fabric of your home in its current state and even dream a little of what it may be like so I can incent myself to save up for the dream rather than spend on things that will ultimately loose there value. Given this software is FREE I would recommend everyone should give it a go as it is so easy.

Developer’s Description

By MyVirtualHome

Design your home in 3D vision.

Free easy to use 3D home design software using stunning graphics & real products. Based on games technology MyVirtualHome is really easy to use. You can walk through your design, open doors, turn lights on and even set the sun to see how shadows will effect your dream design. Regular updates are included for free also.