In this post, we will guide you through the process of drawing to scale using our Gridlines and Scale Ruler (available for free download here). We will also introduce our Procreate Interior Toolkit, which includes over 1600 to-scale stamps designed to simplify the floor plan & utility layout (FF&E) design process.

If you prefer learning through video, scroll down to watch the our video tutorial, where we demonstrate step-by-step process in action.

Note: Procreate is exclusively available for iPad users and can be downloaded from Apple App Store for $12.99 for lifetime usage at the time of writing.

Step 1: Set up the Base Scale with Our Gridlines and Scale Ruler (Free to Download)

While Procreate offers a basic gridlines feature, it is not designed for measurements. That’s why we created our custom Gridlines to help you design with scale and measurements in mind. Paired with our Scale Ruler, you can easily work within commonly used scales, ensuring accuracy in your floor plan.

To get started, simply import the Gridlines and Scale Ruler into Procreate:

Link to download them for free: https://pickapalette.com/shop/procreate-interior-toolkit/

1. Tap the ‘Import’ Button at the top right of the Gallery.

2. Select the appropriate gridlines based on your floor plan size and preferred scale (refer to our size guide included with the downloads). Procreate will automatically open the Gridlines in a new canvas.

3. Insert the Scale Ruler: Tap the Action button and select ‘Insert a Photo’. Select the scale ruler that matches the Gridlines paper size.

Note: The Scale Ruler size is not adjustable. If you accidentally adjust it, just tap the screen with two fingers to undo the changes.

Step 2: Draw or Trace the Enclosures

When starting a floor plan, you’ll either draw the enclosures from scratch or trace existing ones if you’re working on a renovation project. Here’s how to approach each:

To Draw Enclosures from Scratch:

1. Draw out the site boundary by referring to the Gridlines and Scale Ruler for measurements.

2. Draw out the building setback requirements.

3. Start drawing the walls and determine the general layout of the house, such as the positions of the bedrooms, living room, and dining area.

To Trace Existing Enclosures

1. Import an existing floor plan image (such as a building footprint, brochure plan, or even an emergency exit plan). The floor plan should give you an accurate picture of the space arrangement, room shapes, and proportions, even though its resolution might not be perfect.

2. Scale the floor plan using the Gridlines and Scale Ruler. Lower the floor plan layer’s opacity. Resize the floor plan to match the gridlines based on its known dimensions, such as annotated dimension, on-site measurement, or standard furniture sizes (e.g. beds, doors).

3. Trace the enclosures on a new layer.

Tip: Use Procreate’s Drawing Assist feature to draw straight lines easily. Most walls are at 90-degree angles, this feature ensures straight lines on every strokes.

Step 3: Inserting Floor Planning Stamps from Procreate Interior Toolkit

With the enclosures ready, it’s time to add openings such as doors and windows. You can insert ready-drawn doors and window stamps from our Procreate Interior Toolkit.

Our Procreate Interior Toolkit has been meticulously developed with over 1600 ready-made stamps, all created at the same scale. Each stamp is annotated with its real-life dimensions, making it easy to ensure accuracy.

Tips: Before starting, ensure the Dynamic Brush Scaling feature is turned on. This setting helps keep the brush size consistent on your canvas.

To Insert the Stamps to Scale

1. Determine the Relative Scale of Stamp to Floor Plan: Use our Stamp Scale Ruler to determine the relative scale of the stamp to your floor plan. Place the Stamp Scale Ruler on a known dimension, such as gridlines or a floor plan dimension, and adjust the Brush Size tab on the left until the Stamp Scale Ruler aligns with the Gridlines or matches the floor plan dimension. Use this scale percentage for all other stamps.

2. Choose the stamps from the brush sets, adjust the Brush Size tab to the determined percentage from Step 1, and place the stamp on the canvas. The inserted stamps will be precisely scaled to match the dimensions specified in their names.

Tip: Create a new layer for each stencil. This allows you to move, rotate, and resize each stamp independently. Use the Select tool to pick up and edit stamps easily.

Complete the Design of Floor Plan

Complete the design of floor plan by incorporating ready-made details from our Procreate Interior Toolkit.

The sizes of rooms may also be adjusted when furniture and fixtures stamps are added—especially in spaces like bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. By considering these elements from the start, you can create a floor layout that is both functional and efficient.

Step 4: Add Final Touches

Once your floor plan is complete, you can add depth and detail to make it stand out, especially if you’re presenting it to clients. Here are a few options:

1. Shade the Floor with Our Floor Texture Brush: Adding floor textures, colors, or patterns make your furniture stand out. Our floor texture brushes gives you ready-made textures with just a few strokes.

2. Use our Shaded Floor planning Stamps: These stamps provide an extra level of detail, adding depth to your floor plan with the same workflow as the Line Floor Planning Stamps.

3. Color the Furniture: Although it requires more effort, coloring your floor plan according to a specific color scheme can create a cohesive and visually appealing presentation. You can merge all stamp layers or export the floor plan as a PNG, then reopen it in a new file to color the bounded areas using the brush tools of your choice (e.g. watercolor brushes, markers, etc.).

Step 5: Creating Utility Layout

Lighting, electrical, and HVAC layouts are essential for construction purposes. Our Utility Stamps are designed with the same scale in mind, making it easy to determine the size of light fixtures or air conditioning units that is suitable for your floor layout.

Watch our Video Tutorial

If you’re new to Procreate, we recommend watching our video tutorial, which covers the basics and walks you through the detailed steps.

Conclusion

Starting your project in Procreate is intuitive, quick and simple. You can combine your creative freehand sketches with professional floor plan in a single app. Additionally, with iPad’s portability, you can edit and adjust your designs on the go. Make it easy for you to capture changes and your creative moments.

Ready to get started? Visit this page to download the Gridlines and Scale Rulers for free. And to make your workflow even more efficient with our Procreate Interior Toolkit.