How to get
started with
SketchUp
your first 10 steps
Created by Dr Clare Le Roy
Director: The Little Design Corner
www.thelittledesigncorner.com
Copyright The Little Design Corner 2021
WHAT IS SKETCHUP?
SketchUp is a piece of design software used all around the world to
draw up interior design projects in 2D and 3D. It is widely used within
the professional interior design, architecture and landscape design
industry. Most interior design firms around the world have people that
work on SketchUp within their studios.
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Before people join our online courses they normally have a few
questions about how to get started with SketchUp. The purpose of
this guide is to walk you through the exact steps you need to follow
to find the correct version of the software, download it and then get
started correct.
READY TO LEARN SKETCHUP?
Find out more about our online courses
www.thelittledesigncorner.com
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STEP 1: CHOOSE THE RIGHT
VERSION OF THE SOFTWARE
There are a number of different SketchUp options including SketchUp
Free, SketchUp Shop, SketchUp Pro and SketchUp Studio
The versions I recommend you look at are either SketchUp Pro or
SketchUp Free. See the pros and cons of each version below.
RECOMMENDED OPTION: Start with the 30 day free trial of SketchUp
Pro as this will allow you to try out the full features of the software.
At the end of the 30 day trial period you can then either drop back to
the free web based app or upgrade to the full paid version.
GOOD TO KNOW!
With SketchUp Pro you get 2
licenses, which means you
can run the software on two
computers as part of your
annual fee.
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STEP 2: CHECK YOUR COMPUTER
WILL WORK WITH SKETCHUP
Before your sign up for SketchUp it is worth checking your
computer to make sure you have the right system
requirements to run SketchUp.
Most reasonably new computers handle SketchUp completely
fine, but if you have an older computer then Google:
"SketchUP system requirements" and you will be taken to this
link, which you can use to check what is recommended in
terms of computer hardware and software requirements.
GOOD TO KNOW!
SketchUp works on both MAC and PC computers and
on both laptop and desktop computers. However, you
can't design with SketchUp using an iPad.
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STEP 3: GET A SCROLL WHEEL
MOUSE
I recommend you get hold of a mouse with a scroll wheel as
this makes your work in SketchUp much quicker and easier.
If you're on a MAC then the Apple Magic Mouse is perfect.
If you're on a PC then look for a mouse with a centre scroll
wheel.
This is especially important if you use a laptop as the
trackpad of laptops are very clunky, fiddly and slow when
working in SketchUp.
MOUSE WITH CENTRE
APPLE MAGIC MOUSE
SCROLL WHEEL FOR
FOR MAC
PC
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STEP 4: FIND SKETCHUP FROM
YOUR LOCAL RESELLER
Most people don't realise that SketchUp is sold via local
resellers in your own country.
To find your local reseller go to www.sketchup.com and
navigate to the 'Reseller Locator' page from the Plans &
Pricing dropdown menu.
On the reseller page enter your region and your local
SketchUp distributors will be shown.
Go to your local reseller website to purchase SketchUp or to
download your 30 day free trial (recommended option)
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STEP 5: DOWNLOAD THE FREE 30
DAY TRIAL OF SKETCHUP PRO
I recommend starting your journey with SketchUp with the
Free 30 day trial of SketchUp Pro.
This allows you to try the full features of the software before
purchasing.
You can download your free 30 day trial from your local
reseller (see Step 4)
At the end of your 30 day trial period you can either
purchase the full version or drop back to the free web version
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STEP 6: DOWNLOAD YOUR
QUICK REFERENCE CARDS
To speed up your modelling I suggest you download
SketchUp's 'Quick Reference Cards' for the operating system
you are working on.
The quick reference cards give you an overview of each of
the tools in SketchUp and what they do, plus a number of
keyboard short cuts that will speed up your modelling.
Print this off and put it on your desk next to you as you work.
To find it simply Google: SketchUp Quick Reference Cards
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STEP 7: CHOOSE A TEMPLATE
TO WORK IN
Once you've downloaded SketchUp and when you first open
it up you will be prompted to choose a template to work in.
For interior design purposes I suggest you choose the
'interiors' template.
You can select either the mm or inches option, depending on
whether you prefer to work in the metric or imperial system.
I also suggest you 'heart' the chosen template to make this
your default
Once it is set as your default it will open in this template
style each time you start a new project
GOOD TO KNOW!
You can always change your
default template in
SketchUp Preferences later
on if you need to, so don't
worry if you choose the
wrong one!
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STEP 8: CHOOSE A PROJECT
TO WORK ON
To get started working in SketchUp you'll need a project to
design!
In our online course we learn how to model a full 5 bedroom
house for those students who wish to follow along step by
step
Many students also have their own project that they prefer to
work on, which is completely fine as well.
If you wish to design using your own project you'll need a
floor plan to get started with.
In SketchUp there are a number of ways of getting started
with your floor plan. In our course we learn the three main
options:
Start by importing a JPEG/PNG or PDF floor plan file
Start using an imported CAD file (e.g. AutoCAD - .dwg)
Start by measuring the room/house and drawing the floor
plan from scratch
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STEP 9: OPEN YOUR WORKSPACE
AND GET STARTED!
Once you've done all the other steps you will open up a new
file and this is what you will see
Many people wonder who the person is in the file and what
they are there for
This is SketchUp's scale model and she is drawn to scale at
the size of a typical sized person. Her purpose is to give you
something tangible to orient to in your blank work canvas.
GOOD TO KNOW!
Once you start your project
you can delete the scale
model as you won't need her
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STEP 10: DECIDE HOW YOU ARE
GOING TO LEARN
So the obvious question now is what is the best way to learn
how to use SketchUp in the fastest and easiest way?
You have three choices:
1. Do nothing - continue as you have been going with your
design work and not use SketchUp at all
2. Learn it the slow way - piece together your learning by
trial and error using YouTube videos and free tutorials. The
issue with this way is it will take you much longer to learn and
you will risk making many of the common mistakes I see
beginners make in SketchUp
3. Learn it quickly and correctly - by working through a full
step-by-step system that's been proven to work all around
the world with thousands of students. This will short cut your
learning and ensure you don't make mistakes.
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LEARN SKETCHUP QUICKLY AND
CORRECTLY WITH OUR COURSES:
Join more than 3000 students in our self-paced, online SketchUp
courses. Our beginner and intermediate courses take you through a
complete step-by-step system for learning how to use SketchUp to
draw up 3D perspective drawings, scaled drawing sets, elevations,
section cuts, plans, lighting and electrical plans and much more!
www.thelittledesigncorner.com
All created using
SketchUp
READY TO LEARN SKETCHUP?
Find out more about our fun, online, self-
paced courses for interior design.
www.thelittledesigncorner.com
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SUMMARY: YOUR 10 STEP
GETTING STARTED CHECKLIST
1. Choose the right version of the software for your needs
2. Make sure your computer will work with SketchUp
3. Get a scroll wheel mouse
4. Find your local SketchUp reseller
5. Download the 30 day free trial of SketchUp Pro
6. Download your quick reference cards for your short cuts
7. Choose a template to work in and make this your default
8. Choose the project you will work on
9. Open up your workspace and you’re ready to get started.
10. Work out how you are going to learn how to use the software
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SKETCHUP?
Email me: clare@thelittledesigncorner.com
I will be happy to help!
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