Take a photo of any floor plan, even one you sketched on a napkin, and Claude turns it into a full 3D house you can actually walk through, with furniture in every room. Then one connector turns it into a real SketchUp model you can open and edit, the kind of file architects charge thousands of dollars to make. And for the bonus, Higgsfield makes a photorealistic render of your living room and a video walking through the whole house.
What you get: A 3D house you can walk through from one photo, the exact 3 prompts from my video, a real SketchUp model you can open and edit, a bonus photorealistic render and walkthrough video, and fixes if something doesn't work. Works with a napkin sketch too.
What You'll Get
The plan · 3 steps
- 1Upload your floor plan and send the first prompt. It works right away.
- 2Connect SketchUp and get a model file you can open and edit.
- 3Bonus: connect Higgsfield for a render and a walkthrough video.
Before you start
Your account
Claude on any plan. A computer is easiest for walking through the house.
Your floor plan
A clear photo or screenshot of the plan. A napkin sketch works too.
For the extras
A free Trimble ID for SketchUp, and a paid Higgsfield plan for the render and video.
- A 3D house you can walk through. Claude builds the entire house right inside the chat, with furniture in every room, and you can walk from room to room.
- A real SketchUp model. With the SketchUp connector, Claude hands you a .skp file you can open and edit in SketchUp.
- A photorealistic render and a walkthrough video (bonus). With Higgsfield connected, Claude makes a realistic picture of your living room and a video walking through the whole house.
| What | What you need | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 3D house in the chat | Just Claude | Included on every Claude plan |
| SketchUp model file | The SketchUp connector and a Trimble ID | Free for up to 30 models, then a paid SketchUp plan |
| Render and video | The Higgsfield connector | A paid Higgsfield plan (uses credits) |
Get a good floor plan photo
Shoot it straight on, in good light, with the whole plan in the frame. A screenshot of a listing's floor plan works great. Sketching your own? Label every room and write rough sizes like "12 x 14 ft", and Claude gets much closer to the real thing.
The Prompts From My Video
Want them all at once? Connect SketchUp (Step 1) and Higgsfield (Step 2) first, attach your floor plan, then paste this and it runs every prompt from the video for you, one after the other:
Or go one at a time, like in the video. Open a new chat in Claude, click + next to the message box, add a photo of your floor plan and send this:
Turn this into an interactive 3D model of the house that I can walk through with furniture in every room.
Claude builds the entire house in 3D right inside the chat, and you can literally walk from room to room.
Maverick's tip
Want changes? Stay in the same chat and just ask: "Make the kitchen island bigger," "Add a pool in the backyard" or "Use the exact room sizes written on the plan."
Connect SketchUp and Get a Real Model
This is the trick. You only connect SketchUp once.
- Open Connectors. In Claude, click Customize in the left sidebar, then the Connectors tab.
- Find SketchUp. Search SketchUp and click Trimble SketchUp.
- Connect it. Click Connect to Claude, then sign in with your Trimble ID (or create one, it's free) and allow access.
Now come back to the chat with your 3D house and send this:
Now turn this floor plan into a SketchUp model I can open and edit.
Claude builds the model and hands you a preview image and a link to download your .skp file. That's a real 3D model file, the kind of thing architects charge thousands of dollars to make. Open it in SketchUp on the web, on your computer, on an iPad or on an iPhone, and change anything you want.
HEADS UP: Download your .skp file right away. Claude doesn't keep SketchUp models between chats, and it makes new models rather than editing one you already have. Want changes? Ask for a new version in the same chat.
Maverick's tip
Your free SketchUp account saves up to 30 models. After that, you need a paid SketchUp plan.
Step 2 (Bonus): A Render and a Walkthrough Video
Higgsfield is an AI image and video tool. Once it's connected, Claude can use it to make pictures and videos.
Connect Higgsfield
Google Higgsfield MCP and click the first link (higgsfield.ai/mcp). Copy the server link on that page:
- Open Connectors. In Claude, click Customize in the left sidebar, then Connectors.
- Add the connector. Click + Add, then Add custom connector. Name it Higgsfield, paste the link and click Add.
- Sign in. Click Connect, sign into your Higgsfield account and approve access.
Then in your chat, click the + next to the message box, open Connectors and make sure Higgsfield is on.
HEADS UP: The connector needs a paid Higgsfield plan. On Claude's Free plan you can add one custom connector, so if you already have one, remove it or upgrade.
Send the bonus prompt
In the same chat as your house, send this:
Now make a photorealistic render of the living room and a video walking through the whole house.
Claude sends your house to Higgsfield and comes back with a photorealistic render of your living room and a video walking through the whole house. Video takes a few minutes, so let it run.
Maverick's tip
Every render and video uses Higgsfield credits, so ask Claude "How many credits will this use?" before it starts. For the video, I use Seedance 2.5. If Claude picks a different model, add "Use Seedance 2.5 for the video."
Common Mistakes and Quick Fixes
| If this happens | Try this |
|---|---|
| Claude describes the house instead of building it | Say: "Build it as an interactive 3D artifact I can walk through." Still nothing? In Settings > Capabilities, turn on Code execution and file creation. |
| The rooms don't match your plan | Say: "Use the exact room sizes and layout from the plan. Don't add or move any rooms." A sharper photo with room labels helps a lot. |
| You can't move around inside the house | Click inside the 3D view first, then ask Claude: "How do I walk around?" On a phone, ask it to add on-screen arrow buttons. |
| You can't find SketchUp | Click Customize, then the Connectors tab, and search SketchUp. It's listed as Trimble SketchUp. |
| Claude says it can't make SketchUp files | Click + next to the message box, open Connectors and make sure Trimble SketchUp is on. Then send the prompt again. |
| You've used your 30 free models | The free SketchUp account saves up to 30. After that, you need a paid SketchUp plan. |
| The .skp link is gone | Claude doesn't keep models between chats. Ask it to build the model again and download it right away. |
| No "Add custom connector" option | Check Customize > Connectors > + Add. On the Free plan you get one custom connector, so remove the one you have or upgrade. |
| Higgsfield asks you to subscribe | The connector needs a paid Higgsfield plan. Pick one, then click Connect again. |
| The video doesn't look like your house | Say: "Keep every room exactly like the 3D model. Same layout, same furniture, gentle camera moves." |
Quick Reference: Floor Plan to 3D House
| Step | What you do | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 3D house | New chat, add your floor plan photo, send Prompt 1 | A 3D house you can walk through |
| SketchUp | Customize > Connectors > Trimble SketchUp > Connect to Claude, then Prompt 2 | A .skp model you can open and edit |
| Bonus | Connect Higgsfield (https://mcp.higgsfield.ai/mcp), then Prompt 3 | A photorealistic render and a walkthrough video |
DO THIS TODAY
Snap a photo of any floor plan, even your own apartment's, and send the first prompt. Walk through it, then connect SketchUp and download your model file before you close the chat.
From a napkin sketch to a house you can walk through, all in one chat.
Published · Checked