Comparison
DecorViz vs IKEA Place: Which Gives You a Better Room Preview? (2026)
TLDR
IKEA Place is built for live AR browsing in the room. DecorViz is built for seeing how the exact product will actually look in your space. It works from a room photo, uses the real product image, can replace existing furniture, and is not limited to IKEA. If you need an IKEA Place alternative for realistic previews, DecorViz is better than IKEA Place for furniture decisions that require more than a live AR overlay.
Quick summary
DecorViz wins
Exact product visualization in the actual room, stronger realism, existing furniture replacement, and the ability to compare IKEA with other retailers.
Tied
Both support IKEA product exploration and both have a free way to try the experience before paying.
IKEA Place wins
Loose in-room AR browsing when you are physically standing in the space with your phone and a live camera preview is enough.
IKEA furniture visualizer comparison: DecorViz vs IKEA Place
Grouped by what actually matters for a furniture buying decision.
| Feature | DecorViz | IKEA Place |
|---|---|---|
| Input and workflow | ||
| Starts from a room photo | Yes | No. Requires live camera scan |
| Needs you physically in the room | No | Yes. Requires live AR scanning |
| Requires app download | No. Works in browser | Yes. iOS and Android app |
| Uses the real retailer product image | Yes | No. Uses a 3D model of the product |
| Text-prompt spatial placement | Yes. Describe placement in natural language | No |
| Output realism | ||
| Lighting matched to the room scene | Yes. Photometric scene analysis | AR-rendered light in the live camera view; not a generated room-photo composite |
| Scene-consistent shadow synthesis | Yes. Shadows derived from scene lighting | AR-rendered shadows in the live camera view; realism depends on the AR session |
| Perspective and depth inference | AI-inferred from a single photo | Relies on phone sensors and a pre-built 3D model |
| Mirror and reflective surface rendering | Yes. Two-pass reflective rendering | No |
| Works on outdoor spaces | Yes. Patios, decks, gardens, terraces | Not designed for outdoor scenes |
| Replaces existing furniture in the target spot | Yes | No. Overlays the new piece on top of the old one |
| Output format | Exact product rendered into a room photo | Live AR view on camera, with capture/share available in the app |
| Decision workflow | ||
| Available after the live session ends | Yes | Only if you manually capture the AR view as an image or video |
| Side-by-side comparison against the same room | Yes | No |
| Reviewable on any device | Yes | Captured image/video can be reviewed; the live AR placement itself requires the phone session |
| Shareable with another person | Yes. Image link | Yes, by capturing the AR setting as an image or video |
| Works when you are away from home | Yes, from a room photo | No. Requires live camera in the room |
| Retailer coverage | ||
| IKEA catalog | Yes | Yes |
| Wayfair | Yes | No |
| Amazon | Yes | No |
| West Elm | Yes | No |
| Target | Yes | No |
| Any independent retailer with a product image | Yes | No. IKEA catalog only |
| Access | ||
| Browser access | Yes | No. App only |
| App download required | No | Yes |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
IKEA Place column based on documented standalone app behavior and the Inter IKEA newsroom launch post. DecorViz column based on the live product at decorviz.ai and its documented capability set. Last checked: April 11, 2026.
What the output difference looks like
The workflow difference becomes clearer when you compare the output side by side.
AR view: the product is shown live through the phone camera. It is useful for rough placement in the moment, and IKEA says the app can capture and share the AR setting as an image or video, but it does not replace the real furniture already in the scene.
Image source: Inter IKEA newsroom.
DecorViz view: the exact product is rendered into the actual room from a room photo, with much more realistic context for style, placement, and purchase decisions.
Who should choose what
Choose DecorViz if
- You want to see how the exact product will look in your actual room.
- You want your existing furniture replaced instead of covered by an AR overlay.
- You want to test IKEA against Wayfair, Amazon, or West Elm in one room.
- You are not always in the room when you want to decide.
Choose IKEA Place if
- You are browsing the IKEA catalog loosely with no specific product in mind.
- You are physically in the room and a rough live overlay is enough.
- You do not need cross-retailer comparison or old furniture replacement.
DecorViz is an independent tool and is not affiliated with IKEA.
IKEA Place vs IKEA Kreativ
IKEA Place is IKEA's older standalone AR app for placing individual products through your phone camera. IKEA Kreativ is IKEA's broader room planning tool, built around scanning the room once and then redesigning it with IKEA furniture.
Both are useful for IKEA-only workflows. Neither is the same thing as showing one exact retailer product in your actual room from a room photo, which is the use case this comparison is focused on.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most real purchase decisions, yes. IKEA Place is an AR app that shows a live 3D model through your phone camera while you are standing in the room. DecorViz works from a room photo and the real product image, can replace existing furniture, and is built to show how the exact product will actually look in your space.
IKEA has consolidated most of its AR visualization features into the main IKEA app and IKEA Kreativ. The standalone IKEA Place app is still installable for existing users in some regions, but IKEA's current focus is the unified app and Kreativ. This page describes the original standalone IKEA Place behavior.
IKEA Place is the older standalone AR app for placing individual products through your phone camera. IKEA Kreativ is IKEA's full room planner, which lets you scan the room and redesign it with IKEA furniture. Neither saves a realistic photo of your actual room or works with products from retailers outside IKEA.
Yes. DecorViz starts from a room photo and the real product image, works with IKEA and other retailers, and can replace the old furniture in the scene so you can judge the actual product more realistically than a live AR overlay.
Yes. Use one room photo and swap between products from IKEA, Wayfair, Amazon, West Elm, Target, and independent stores. IKEA Place is limited to the IKEA catalog only.
Yes. When you place a new sofa, bed, or rug in a room that already has one, DecorViz replaces the old piece with the new product in the generated image. IKEA Place overlays the new piece on top of the live camera view, so your existing furniture stays visible underneath.
Yes. DecorViz handles patios, decks, gardens, and outdoor entertaining areas. It also renders products correctly in scenes that contain mirrors and reflective surfaces, using a two-pass rendering approach. IKEA Place is designed for indoor furniture placement only.
No. DecorViz runs in your browser. Upload a room photo and a product image and you can visualize the exact product in your room without installing anything.
No. DecorViz is an independent visualization tool and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by IKEA.
Choose IKEA Place if you are casually browsing IKEA products, you are physically in the room with your phone, and a rough live AR placement is enough. Choose DecorViz if you want a more realistic view of the exact product, want to replace existing furniture in the scene, or want to compare IKEA with other retailers.
Other DecorViz comparisons
See the IKEA product in your actual room.
Upload your room photo and the product image. See how the exact IKEA product will look in your actual room before you order.
Try DecorViz freeNo app. No live scanning. No guesswork.