Filed under: Your Home, Fun Stuff, Design, etc, News & Trends
Kitting out your new place? Re-doing your current one? There's an app for that.We scoured Apple's iTunes store and distilled hundreds (upon hundreds) of useful apps into six of our latest faves for decorating, all under $5. Warning: Proceed with caution; there's some high addiction potential here.
Mark Lewison
Home Interior Layout Designer:
Mark On Call by Mark Lewison
$3 (at left)
Upload photos of your space, and execute your next project with the help of a detailed visual plan. Customizable elements (generic, architectural, living, dining, bed, bath, kitchen) can be moved from room to room, and layouts can be saved for later use. Out shopping? Take a photo of your favorite finish, fabric, rug or flooring material and "skin" it onto any surface to preview before buying.
BEST FOR: CREATING A PALETTE
ColorSnap by Sherwin-Williams
Free (not shown)
See a color you love? Capture it with your camera; this app will sort through its 1,500-color library and select the shade of paint that's the closest match. Develop a custom palette, get suggestions on complementary hues and fine-tune brightness and saturation.
Black Mana Studios
Home 3D by Black Mana Studios
$5 (at left)
Everything you need to build your dream home-from the initial floor plan to furnishings. Insert rooms, furniture, fixtures and appliances, and see everything in three dimensions. Mix and match wallpaper, paint and flooring materials: Literally anything can be switched, flipped and modified.
BEST FOR: FURNISHING YOUR SPACE
ShopStyle
Free (not shown)
Features a wealth of bed and bath products, tableware, furniture and home decor-all searchable by brand, size, color and price. Peruse items from hundreds of retailers, including Design Within Reach, Pottery Barn, Room & Board and Williams-Sonoma. Save favorites, then share via email or Twitter.
HGTV
HGTV's Staging & Property
Free (at left)
Get complimentary advice and learn valuable tricks of the trade, straight from the network's seasoned pros. Before-and-after slideshows and video clips from hit programs like Designed to Sell, Curb Appeal, and My First Place help you fabricate your ideal space, keep up with trends and identify your own personal style.
BEST FOR: HUNTING FOR TREASURES
Christie's
Free (not shown)
Browse through the renowned auctioneer's 450-plus sales in more than 80 departments, including fine and decorative arts, photographs and collectibles. Looking to figure out what something's worth? Try finding comparable, recently sold offerings by ogling the company's extensive results listings.
Get more of our favorite design apps then tell us! Are there smart phone apps you use for your cell phone? Comment below to let us know which ones you love.