Discover the Top Home Decorating Apps for Effortless Style and Smart DIY Projects!
In today’s digitally-driven world, there’s truly an app for everything, and the realm of home decorating and DIY is no exception. For enthusiasts like myself, my phone is less about games and more about a powerful toolkit packed with the best apps designed to simplify and elevate every aspect of home design. From sketching out innovative ideas and selecting the perfect paint hue to ensuring your prized artwork hangs flawlessly, these digital companions are indispensable. They transform complex design challenges into manageable, even enjoyable, tasks. With so many room decorating apps available, sifting through them can be a project in itself. That’s why I’m thrilled to share my ten absolute favorite home decorating apps that have truly revolutionized how I approach interior design and DIY projects. (Please note: This post includes affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. For full disclosure details, please refer {here}).
Planta App: Your Personal Plant Care Assistant
Maintaining a vibrant indoor jungle can be a challenge, and if you’re anything like me, your track record with keeping plants alive might be less than stellar. I’ve certainly had my share of plant casualties, which sometimes leads me to embrace beautiful faux alternatives, like the incredibly realistic {faux fiddle leaf fig tree} that graces my family room, a space I proudly revealed in my One Room Challenge feature.
Family Room Sources: TV console (similar style) | Chandelier (elegant satin bronze finish) | White tasseled pillow cover (similar texture) | Gray patterned pillow cover | Faux fiddle leaf fig tree (remarkably lifelike) | Stylish Area Rug | Curated Art prints (detailed insights available in {this post}) | Acrylic coffee table (similar sleek design) | Coffee table tray (perfect 28″ square) | Comfortable Rattan chair
However, for the living plants that still thrive in my home, I owe their survival to two main factors: their inherent resilience (snake plants and pothos are, thankfully, almost indestructible!) and the invaluable assistance of a dedicated plant watering app. I once relied on Koubachi, but since its discontinuation, I’ve transitioned to Planta, and I find it even better. Upon downloading, the app intelligently gauges your skill level, ranging from “hopeless” to “master.” I candidly positioned myself as a “beginner,” which, as the app humorously describes, means “every now and then I manage to keep a cactus alive.” You also specify your commitment level – for me, it’s firmly “low,” as I gravitate towards low-maintenance plants. From there, the app guides you through adding your plants, prompting you to identify the type, their location within your home, the amount of light they receive, and even allowing you to upload a photo for easy visual identification.
The free version I use diligently sends alerts whenever a plant requires watering, a simple yet profoundly helpful feature for those of us with less-than-green thumbs. For those seeking enhanced functionality, the premium version offers additional features like a plant identifier and fertilization alerts, making it an even more comprehensive plant care solution. Planta is a straightforward app, but its impact on plant longevity for “black thumbs” like me is truly remarkable.
iHandy Level App (or iPhone’s Built-in Measure App): Precision at Your Fingertips
Important Update! While the original iHandy Level app might no longer be available, iPhone users rejoice! Your device now comes equipped with this essential capability. Simply open the pre-loaded “Measure” app on your phone, then tap “level” to access its functionality.
Achieving perfectly level decor can make all the difference in a room’s aesthetic. When I’m tackling a gallery wall or hanging multiple pieces of art, I rely on my trusty standard level or a more advanced laser level (you can witness my laser level in action and discover other clever gadgets in {this detailed post}). However, for those quick adjustments or when I simply need to ensure a single picture frame is perfectly straight, my phone becomes my secret weapon. The original iHandy Level app was my go-to among free options because it was remarkably accurate and blessedly free of distracting ads. This simplicity and precision are key for seamless DIY projects. Even with the iPhone’s built-in tool, the principle remains: these apps provide instant feedback, helping you avoid crooked frames and ensuring your home decor looks professionally installed. You could also often upgrade similar apps for a few dollars to unlock additional features, such as a surface level or a plumb line, further expanding their utility for more complex leveling tasks.
Photo Measures Lite App: Never Buy the Wrong Size Again
Have you ever stumbled upon what seems like the absolute perfect piece of furniture at a store or flea market, only to hesitate because you’re unsure if it will actually fit in your designated space? This common dilemma can lead to missed opportunities or, worse, costly mistakes. That’s where the Photo Measures Lite app becomes an indispensable tool for any home decorator or DIY enthusiast. This ingenious app allows you to capture a photograph of any area in your home and effortlessly add precise measurements directly onto the image. This means that the next time you encounter that perfect “find,” you’ll have all the necessary dimensions at your fingertips, guaranteeing a confident purchase. The free version of Photo Measures Lite conveniently allows you to save two photos at a time. To circumvent this limit, I typically create the images with their measurement overlays within the app, then screenshot them to save them permanently to my phone’s photo library. This ingenious workaround allows me to clear the app’s memory and import new photos as needed. For those requiring more extensive storage or wishing to synchronize their measurements across devices like an iPad, a premium upgrade is available. It’s important to note that this app doesn’t automatically take measurements (and honestly, I wouldn’t trust any app to do that without manual verification), but it excels at providing an incredibly simple and intuitive way to document and reference them visually on your photos, making it a critical step in smart home purchasing decisions.
Pinterest App: Your Endless Source of Decorating Ideas & Inspiration
PicMonkey App: Edit Photos and Visualize Designs On-the-Go
PicMonkey has been my go-to tool for quick and easy photo editing for many years, primarily used on my desktop for blog content. However, the introduction of their mobile app, which you can find {here}, has significantly enhanced its utility, especially for home decorating and DIY enthusiasts. I frequently use it to create compelling collage images and add informative overlays, much like the example below from my comprehensive post on how to expertly decorate a bookshelf. The app’s “Stickers” feature allows you to effortlessly create white background boxes, over which you can then add text. This functionality is incredibly practical for those spontaneous shopping trips: you can snap a photo of a potential purchase and instantly add vital details like its price, dimensions, or even notes about its suitability for your space. It transforms simple photos into visual decision-making tools.
Beyond quick edits, PicMonkey is also my secret weapon for crafting sophisticated design mood boards. These visual collages are invaluable for conceptualizing and refining interior design ideas before committing to any purchases. You can learn all the intricate details about how I create my compelling {interior design mood boards {here}, leveraging the app’s diverse features to bring my visions to life. It truly empowers you to visualize and plan your home decor projects with professional precision, all from the convenience of your phone.
Microsoft To-Do: The Ultimate Project Management App for Your Home
My love for to-do lists is profound and unwavering. Frankly, I confess I would accomplish very little without them, and I typically juggle multiple lists concurrently. While the satisfaction of a pen-and-paper list remains undeniable, I’ve increasingly shifted towards electronic list-making. Among the myriad of apps I’ve tested, the Microsoft To-Do app stands out as my undisputed favorite. It transcends a simple checklist; it’s a comprehensive task management system perfectly suited for the complexities of home decorating and DIY projects. You can effortlessly create distinct lists for various aspects of your life—be it a renovation project, daily chores, or an upcoming shopping spree for decor items. What truly elevates this app are its intelligent features: you can star high-priority items, ensuring crucial tasks are never overlooked, and assign due dates to receive timely reminder alerts, preventing any missed deadlines for your projects. Its collaborative functionality is a game-changer; you can invite other users, making it ideal for family grocery lists where everyone can contribute from their own device, or for coordinating tasks with a partner during a home renovation. The intuitive design, complete with satisfying little check boxes and a delightful ding sound upon task completion, provides the same sense of accomplishment as physically crossing an item off a paper list. This makes managing household tasks and ambitious decorating projects not just efficient, but genuinely rewarding.
Paper (by WeTransfer): Sketch Your Design Ideas Anywhere
Parallel to my appreciation for meticulously organized to-do lists, I possess a deep fondness for sketching out ideas. Design inspiration often strikes at the most unexpected moments—while browsing a magazine, observing a beautifully arranged display, or even during a quiet coffee break. In these instances, being able to simply grab my phone and quickly jot down a concept is invaluable. The Paper app by WeTransfer is a creative powerhouse, offering a rich array of sketching tools that cater to every artistic whim. I particularly adore the super fine pen tool, which allows for intricate details and precise lines, but you can explore various brushes and textures to find your perfect medium. The ability to choose from a wide palette of colors further enhances the creative process, letting you bring your visions to life with vibrant accuracy. Once your sketches begin to accumulate, the app provides a charming and intuitive way to organize them into virtual sketchbooks, making it incredibly easy to find and refer back to specific ideas whenever you need them. While not exclusively a home decorating app, its utility for planning out decorating projects, visualizing furniture layouts, brainstorming custom DIY elements, or even mapping out garden designs is unparalleled. It truly is a must-have for anyone who wants to capture and develop their creative ideas on the go.
ColorSnap, Color Portfolio, & Color Smart: Your Virtual Paint Color Consultants
Choosing the perfect paint color can be an overwhelming decision, given the endless array of shades and undertones available. While I haven’t personally used these paint color matching apps to pinpoint the exact final shade for a room, they have proven to be exceptionally valuable tools for guiding my initial choices and narrowing down the vast possibilities. Most of the leading paint brands recognize this challenge and offer their own sophisticated apps, all operating on a similar, highly intuitive premise. You can either upload an existing photograph of your space or an item you love, or capture a new image directly with your phone’s camera. The app then analyzes the colors within that image and provides a selection of suggested paint colors from their extensive collections that complement or match your inspiration. This capability is a huge time-saver, helping you filter out unsuitable shades before you even step foot in a paint store. The three apps I’ve frequently turned to, and highly recommend for their effectiveness, are Sherwin-Williams’s excellent app called ColorSnap Visualizer, Benjamin Moore’s comprehensive tool known as Color Portfolio, and Behr’s user-friendly application, Color Smart by Behr Mobile. They are incredibly fun home decorating apps to experiment with, providing an engaging and practical way to visualize how different paint colors might transform your living spaces.
Houzz App: Your Encyclopedia for Home Design & Remodeling
When it comes to comprehensive home design and remodeling resources, the Houzz app consistently ranks among the most highly-rated and indispensable home decorating apps available. It’s an expansive digital library boasting an incredible collection of over 25 million high-resolution images showcasing diverse home interiors and exteriors. This vast database allows users to immerse themselves in a world of design inspiration, exploring countless styles, layouts, and creative solutions for every room imaginable. Beyond mere browsing, Houzz offers an innovative “view products in your room” feature, which utilizes augmented reality to help you visualize how furniture and decor items would look in your own space before making a purchase. This eliminates much of the guesswork and potential buyer’s remorse. Furthermore, Houzz serves as a vital professional directory, enabling you to effortlessly search for and connect with local experts in your area—from skilled contractors for major remodeling work and talented interior designers to experienced architects for structural plans. For organized individuals, the app’s “Ideabooks” feature is a standout, allowing you to collect, categorize, and annotate all the images and products that capture your imagination, effectively building personalized mood boards for your projects. Houzz is more than just an app; it’s a vibrant community and a powerful platform that empowers homeowners to plan, design, and realize their dream homes with confidence and unparalleled resources.
LIKEtoKNOW.it (LTK) App: Shop Your Favorite Instagram Home Decor
If you, like me, find endless inspiration scrolling through beautiful home decor on Instagram, then you’re likely familiar with how many bloggers and content creators (myself included) utilize platforms like RewardStyle to seamlessly link the items featured in their posts. This system makes it incredibly easy for you to shop the exact pieces you admire. Recognizing the need to streamline this process even further, RewardStyle developed the innovative LIKEtoKNOW.it (now simply LTK) app. This app completely transforms your shopping experience. Once downloaded, whenever you “like” or screenshot an image on Instagram that contains linked products via RewardStyle, that very photo, along with all its shoppable product links, is automatically saved directly to the LTK app. This means you can instantly browse the items or revisit them later at your leisure, ensuring you never lose track of a piece you loved. The app also allows you to search for and follow your favorite Instagrammers, granting you access to every single one of their product-linked posts, including those you might have missed in your feed. This is an incredible advantage for keeping up with trending styles and discovering new brands through trusted sources. The LTK app is consistently praised with exceptionally high reviews for its user-friendly interface and its ability to bridge the gap between inspiration and immediate purchasing. You can easily click {here} to download the LIKEtoKNOW.it app and explore its features (and while you’re there, be sure to look me up and give me a follow {here})! It truly makes shopping for your home as effortless as it is inspiring.
