6 helpful apps for home design

Making decisions about your new or renovated space will be a lot easier with these apps at your side. From creating augmented reality floor plans to finding top-rated contractors, dig into your next home project with these helpful tools.

Add furniture to your home without the heavy lifting thanks to Houzz. When you spot a piece you like while browsing the Ideas or Shop sections, tap “View in room” to visualize it in your space through augmented reality. Like what you see? Buy your new furniture directly in the app. If you need some tips on your next project, head to “Advice” for tricks and feedback from the community.

Use the Sketch feature to draw directly on photos from the Houzz collection, so you can make notes and edits before sharing with contractors or collaborators.

Not a fan of tape measures? Use this augmented reality ruler instead. Grab data like room or item length, width, and height, plus the numbers on things like distance, volume, and angle. There’s even a feature for creating a floor plan with your saved measurements which you can export and print.

Adjust units of measurement, video timer length, and autofocus in the app settings.

Part social network, part lifestyle discovery tool, Pinterest is like a virtual pinboard with endless inspiration. Search with terms like “zen bedroom” or “small kitchen'' to get great visual ideas for your home. Stash your favorite images and videos (aka Pins) away for later use by making your own Boards.

Spot the perfect living room chair at a classy house party? Take a pic then tap the camera in the search bar to explore Pins related to the image. “Shop” shows related products you can buy from the merchants who Pinned them.

Now that you’ve got a plan in place, it’s time to get the job done. Dive into Angi to find user-reviewed contractors ready to tackle all kinds of projects, from carpentry to HVAC to flooring. You also check out tools for cost estimates, project planning guides, and tips on financing.

As long as you book through the app, you’ll be covered by the brand’s Happiness Guarantee, which offers financial protection for your projects.

Wayfair is a destination for home essentials big and small, from dining room tables and washing machines to pillows and sheets. When it’s time to whittle down your many options, read user reviews, compare pricing across items, and use the augmented reality option to see how it looks in your space before you buy.

Intrigued by some items you’re not quite ready to purchase? Add them to your Lists for later perusal.

Transform naked walls by turning your photography gems into real world pictures. Upload from your device gallery or select your favorite social snaps, then print framed or unframed photographs and canvases. Built-in templates and easy upload tools make the process a breeze.

If you need your unframed pics ASAP, schedule them to be picked up at a Walmart, CVS, or Walgreens within an hour of your order.