Adding columns, radiators, and other obstacles
Mark the things you can't move — columns, radiators, ducts — so your furniture layout works around them.
Columns, radiators, ductwork, and chimney breasts are obstacles — fixed elements furniture has to work around. Place them like any wall fixture and Smart Flow Check accounts for them.
Step by step
- 1
Pillar (column)
Open the Build panel (on a phone, Structural & Interior) and tap Pillar in the Structural section. The pillar appears in the middle of the plan, already selected: drag it to where the column really stands. In its settings, set Width and Depth (each 4 to 72 inches; it starts at 12 × 16), Height (it follows the wall height until you change it) and Rotation. The pillar is always rectangular; it shows in 2D as a small filled shape and in 3D as a full-height column.
A pillar dropped inside the room — furniture and Smart Flow Check work around it. - 2
Radiator
Radiators are catalog items. In Furnish, search radiator (they also sit in the Bathroom room tab) and pick Compact, Standard, Wide or Tall Vertical Radiator. Drag it against the wall and set its exact size in its settings. Real residential radiators run about 24–48 inches wide and 18–30 inches tall.
- 3
Other obstacles
Ductwork, chimney breasts, built-in cabinetry, plumbing chases — model with the Pillar tile (sized accordingly) or as custom furniture (Furnish Panel → Custom Furniture).
Tips
A pillar is a rectangle
A pillar has no round option: it's always a rectangle. For a square post, type the same Width and Depth. For a round column, use a square of the column's diameter so the clearance around it stays honest.
Model the radiator too
Add the radiator from the catalog (search radiator) so Flow Check flags furniture that overlaps it, not just structural columns.
Common mistakes
Treating a column as furniture
A pillar is structural — it runs floor to ceiling and furniture must clear it. Place it with the Pillar tile so Flow Check flags anything overlapping it.
Guessing the size
A boxed-in steel post can be 6–12 in; a masonry column more. Measure the real one and set the size, or your clearances will be off.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a column?
Build → Structural → Pillar. It lands in the middle of the plan, selected; drag it into place and set its Width and Depth.
How does Smart Flow Check treat a column?
It's an obstacle — furniture must clear it. Flow Check warns when a piece overlaps the column footprint, so route seating and tables around it.
Can I model a radiator or chimney breast?
Yes. A radiator comes from the catalog (search radiator in Furnish). A chimney breast or boxed-in chase is a Pillar sized to match. Either way Flow Check keeps furniture clear of it.
Can a pillar be round?
No: a pillar is always rectangular. Type the same Width and Depth for a square post, or use a square the size of a round column's diameter.
Start designing your room
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