Havenly offers an affordable and accessible way to work with a professional interior designer online, focusing on a collaborative and user-friendly experience with mood boards. In contrast, Modsy is a technology-driven service that specializes in creating photorealistic 3D renderings, allowing you to see exactly how new furniture and decor will look in your actual room before you commit to buying anything.
Let's compare everything you need to know to choose the right online interior design service for your home.
Havenly: The Accessible & Affordable Online Design Service
Havenly connects people with professional interior designers through an easy-to-use online platform. The entire process is designed to be straightforward and budget-friendly, making professional design services available to a much broader audience. It's an excellent choice for new homeowners or anyone looking for expert guidance for a room refresh without the high cost and complexity of a traditional interior designer.
- Services: Online interior design consultations and full room makeovers. The process includes a style quiz, one-on-one collaboration with a designer via messaging, concept boards, a final design concept with a shoppable furniture list, and a 2D or 3D room mockup.
- Style/vibe: Highly versatile, but their branding and curated looks often lean toward modern, cozy, contemporary, and approachable aesthetics (think modern farmhouse or transitional).
- Price point: Very accessible. The "Havenly Mini" package for simple updates starts around $149, while the "Havenly Full" room design typically costs about $279 per room.
- Shopping Experience: Entirely integrated. You receive a curated shopping list with items from hundreds of brands like West Elm, Crate & Barrel, and Pottery Barn. You can check out directly through the Havenly platform, and their team handles ordering and logistics.
- Technology: The service uses mood boards and 2D layouts, with a basic 3D rendering provided in the final design to help you visualize the space.
- Sustainability: The service actively partners with eco-conscious brands, making it easy to request decor and furniture options that prioritize responsible sourcing and materials.
Havenly is a great option for anyone wanting a professional eye on their space without a significant financial investment, offering a seamless process from design to purchasing.
Shop Havenly: havenly.com
Modsy: The Realistic 3D Visualization Expert
Modsy stands out in the online design world by focusing on cutting-edge 3D visualization technology. Their service creates a remarkably realistic, 360-degree digital model of your actual room, allowing you to see new layouts and furniture with near-perfect accuracy. This tech-forward approach removes the guesswork, giving you a high degree of confidence before making any big-ticket purchases.
- Services: Virtual interior design that starts with you submitting photos and dimensions of your room. A designer then creates two initial 3D design concepts of your space that you can revise.
- Style/vibe: Extremely flexible. Because you can see items in your digital room, Modsy empowers you to experiment with any style, from eclectic and contemporary to minimalist or maximalist.
- Price point: Mid-range. Packages typically start at $159 per room for their classic service, with premium options available for more complex needs.
- Shopping Experience: Highly interactive and visual. You can explore your 3D room rendering, swap out furniture pieces with alternatives from their catalog, and click on any item to purchase it directly.
- Technology: This is Modsy’s key strength. The realistic 3D renderings are interactive and dimensionally accurate, which is incredibly useful for assessing scale, layout, and color palettes.
- Fit & Sizing: Modsy excels here. The 3D visualizations are perfect for anyone worried about whether a sofa will overpower a room or if a dining table will fit, making it ideal for small or awkwardly shaped spaces.
If you're a visual person who struggles to imagine how a mood board will translate to your real-life space, Modsy’s immersive 3D experience is a huge advantage.
Shop Modsy: modsy.com
Havenly vs. Modsy Comparison
Price Comparison
Havenly is typically the more budget-friendly option. Its design packages are often priced lower, making it an excellent entry point for someone new to online interior design services. This straightforward pricing model offers great value, including one-on-one time with a designer and a complete shoppable room design.
Modsy's packages start at a slightly higher price point, but that cost includes its powerful 3D rendering technology. For those who value seeing a photorealistic model of their room, the premium is often well worth it. It provides an impressive level of assurance before you spend thousands on furniture that might not fit or match your vision.
Design Process & Visualization
The core difference between the services lies here. Havenly follows a more traditional design process adapted for an online platform. You interact with your designer, review mood boards and concepts, and provide feedback to refine the design. The final deliverable includes a 2D layout and a visual representation of the room, which feels structured and collaborative.
Modsy's process is built around its visualization technology. After receiving your initial designs, you get an interactive 3D model of your room. This allows you to "walk through" the space, swap products in and out in real-time with the platform's tools, and see the results instantly. It's a more dynamic, hands-on experience for visualizing the end result.
Shopping Experience
Both services offer a convenient, integrated a la carte shopping experience, so you are never required to buy anything. Havenly provides a shopping list, and their ordering team manages the purchasing process for you, consolidating your items and streamlining shipping logistics, which can be a huge time-saver.
Modsy's shopping experience is directly tied to its 3D tool. You can click on any item within your virtual room to see its price and retail details, then add it to your cart. This visual-first approach helps you make purchasing decisions with more context and confidence.
Style & Aesthetic
Both services are capable of working with any style preference you have. However, Havenly often showcases looks that are warm, inviting, and on-trend, making it great for users who favor cozy, modern, or contemporary styles.
With Modsy, the ability to see things visually can empower users to be more experimental. Seeing a bold wallpaper or an eclectic furniture mix rendered realistically in your own room can make it less intimidating to try new aesthetics you might otherwise avoid.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right online design service depends entirely on your budget, design personality, and how you prefer to visualize a project.
Choose Havenly if:
- You're working with a smaller budget and want the most value for your money.
- You appreciate a more traditional, collaborative design process with an expert.
- You're new to interior design services and want a straightforward, easy-to-follow process.
- You simply need design direction for a room refresh and don't require photorealistic renderings.
Choose Modsy if:
- You are a highly visual person and need to see exactly how a layout will look before buying.
- You are furnishing a tricky or small space and worried about scale and proportions.
- You enjoy technology and want an interactive tool to experiment with different products.
- You are willing to pay a slight premium for the confidence that comes with a realistic 3D preview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Havenly or Modsy cheaper?
Havenly is generally cheaper. Its packages typically start at a lower price point, making it a more accessible choice for those on a strict budget or looking for a simple room refresh.
Which service offers better visualizations?
Modsy is the clear winner for visualizations. Its entire service is built around its high-quality, realistic, and interactive 3D renderings of your actual room, a feature that sets it apart from nearly all competitors.
Can I use my existing furniture in the design?
Yes, both services allow you to incorporate your existing furniture into the new design plan. You'll provide photos and dimensions of pieces you want to keep, and the designers will integrate them into the room layouts and product suggestions.
How long does the design process take?
Timelines vary, but you can typically expect to receive initial design concepts within one to two weeks from both services. The total time depends on how quickly you provide feedback and how many revisions are needed.
Which service is better for small spaces?
While both can design for small spaces, Modsy's technology gives it an edge. Its accurate 3D renderings are incredibly helpful for visualizing scale and ensuring furniture will fit properly and not overwhelm a compact room.
Do I have to buy all the furniture they recommend?
No, there is no obligation to purchase anything from either service. Your design package provides you with a blueprint and a curated shopping list, but you are free to buy as many or as few items as you wish, or use the plans as inspiration to shop elsewhere.
How do I communicate with my designer?
Both platforms use an online messaging system to facilitate communication with your designer. You can share feedback, ask questions, and collaborate on your design directly through their respective websites.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
