10 Apps That Will Make You Feel Like an Interior Designer
Floor plans are about to get way easier.
Updated Jul 1, 2019 12:43 PM
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There are apps for literally everything these days: wine, horoscopes, sleeping, organizing, earning money. The answers to your most pressing questions—for instance: How should I decorate this room?—literally lie in the palm of your hand.
You don’t have to be an interior designer to create a gorgeous space. Arm yourself with the right tools, and every endeavor, from painting the bedroom to tearing out the kitchen, won’t seem like such a daunting task. Forget the expensive courses and fancy desktop programs: Download these 10 apps, and your next project will be a breeze.
If you’re still finding your style…
The sharing platform isn’t just for late-night deep dives: Source and save ideas on-the-go by keeping your boards handy on your phone. Having clearly labeled folders for all your projects and ideas (get specific with names such as “bathroom lighting” or “living room sofas”) will help you stay organized.
You don’t have to bear the expense of hiring a professional to get their opinion—text with one in real time through this app starting at $69. Upload photos of your space to kick off the conversation. When you’re done chatting about accent walls or which side table to put next to the bed, you can take various style quizzes to hone your look even further, then shop Havenly’s curated list of brands.
If you’re shopping for furniture…
Using augmented reality technology, the Swedish retailer’s tool allows you to virtually place any of its items in your home, scaled to size. Give it a whirl before you show up to the warehouse—it will eliminate the headache of assembling a sectional or credenza only to discover that it doesn’t fit just right.
The vintage seller’s app makes it easy to score preloved designer pieces (think: Eames and Jeanneret), plus, with its try-before-you-buy option (an AR experience similar to IKEA Place), purchasing one-of-a-kind furniture feels a whole lot less risky. Add a photo of the room you’re working on and start trying out different pieces in the space.
No tape measure? No problem. Slowly wave your phone from point A to point B in a straight line and this app will calculate the length, width, and height of the space or object.
If you need some feng shui…
A big, empty room is often the hardest hurdle to overcome. Play around with the possibilities with this 3-D floor plan. To start, choose from one of the predefined configurations. Then set the exact dimensions of your space in blueprint mode, and decorate and furnish it with the catalog of colors and flooring materials. Hint: Investing in matching nightstands will make a bedroom feel more balanced and, thus, a calmer place to be.
If you’re dying to paint something…
Before you take a stab at forming a paint-chip palette, get reacquainted with the color wheel. With the help of this platform, you can organize your favorite colors into folders, as well as adjust the saturation and brightness. Knowing exactly what you need will make your next trip to the hardware store a lot less time-consuming.
Want your dining room to be as red as a garden rose? Wish your dresser resembled the night sky? Whatever is inspiring you, capture it with your camera, upload the photo, and this app will tell you which Sherwin-Williams color (there are nearly 1,500 of them) comes closest to the real thing.
If you want to fill up walls in a flash…
Map out an entire gallery wall by browsing the preset layouts and configurations. You’ll be able to see what specific pieces will look like in your home, but more than that, you can purchase the art and frames through the app itself.
If you’re ready to share the final product…
When you’re away from your desktop but desperately need to edit your Instagram post, this free (!) image-altering app lets you filter, crop, design collages, adjust color, zoom, and more from the comfort of, well, anywhere. One of the best parts of finishing a project is being able to share it with friends.
This article was originally published on January 13, 2017. It has been updated with new information.
See more of our favorite apps:
These Apps Will Get You Your Best Sleep Ever
Our Favorite New Augmented Reality Design Apps
Ikea Is Launching an Augmented Reality Shopping App