Home Improvement Apps [Infographic]

Helen O'Keeffe http://www.ezlivinginteriors.com 3m 768 #homeimprovement

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

Improving Your Home

Carrying out a home improvement project can be daunting while also being exciting. No matter the size of the project, it’s something that requires a degree of planning and research and the end goals should be your first priority. Do you need to gain more space in your home, more storage or do you need to update something for aesthetic reasons? Some people choose to take on a home improvement project for the purposes of increasing the value of their home but that needs to be carefully researched. The choices are many but it’s important to be focused at the beginning of the project in terms of budget and contractors. Choose your contractors well and ask family and friends for recommendations. Also engage with the builders/carpenters/plumbers to see if they can show you previous projects as this will give you a good idea if you would be happy with their work. Keep a focused eye throughout the project on the budget aspect of things as this can easily come apart and  you can find yourself over budget easily which might not be something you can cater for.

This Infographic from the guys over at EZ Living highlights some fantastic and useful apps for your home improvement project. They have broken them down into the different stages of the project and also indicated what platforms you can get them on and also their cost. Check it out below.

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HOME IMPROVEMENT & DESIGN APPS

APPS FOR Gathering Ideas & Inspiration

Houzz

iOS and Android

Cost: Free

• Over 200,000 images of various bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. It’s a hive of inspiration and easy to use interface!
• Provides somewhere to collate all your ideas in an easy to access location and they can be accessed online.

Pinterest

iOS and Android

Cost: Free

• A place to gather all your inspiration be it images, graphics, or articles.
• You can share your boards/bins easily for collaboration with your partner/designer/builder or use secret boards to keep them private!

APPS FOR Deciding on Colour

Delux Visualizer

iOS and Android

Cost: Free

• Uses augmented reality technology to allow you to visualize Dulux colours in your rooms by just using your phone!
• By uploading an image of a room colour, it can also give you suggested matches for that colour

Color 911

iOS

Cost: €3.99

• You can upload a photo of, for example a sofa and the app will suggest complementary colours to go with that.
• You can also upload an image of something like scenery and the app will help you isolate your favourite tone from it and colour to match it.

APPS FOR Help Doing the Work

iHandy Level

iOS and Android

Cost: Free

• Negates the need to have a spirit level and can be used for simple tasks like hanging pictures.
• *A paid version (iHandy Carpenter) gives advanced tools such as a steel protractor, measuring ruler capabilities, and more!

Home Design 3D

iOS and Android

Cost: Free

• Create and design a 3D view of a new build or room.
• Add in furniture so that you can see what the room will look like. You can also easily share plans.

Photo Measures

iOS and Android

Cost: Free

• Allows you to upload photos of your rooms and draw/write measurements directly on to the images.
• Handy way to share those measurements with contractors and it’s also easily accessible when you’re shopping for items such as furniture.

TIPS FROM THE Experts for Home Improvement Projects*

*none of these experts are affiliated with EZ Living Interiors

“Take your time… I think the home is a bit like buying clothes – if you go out saying, ‘We have to find taps today’; you end up with something only semi-satisfactory. Choose and replace things gradually when you find things that you really love.” – Sarah Beeny, TV Property Expert

“Don’t be afraid to make  your house personal; we make sense of the world by the narratives we create. Never throw out your dad’s chair, your grandad’s clock.” – Kevin McCloud, Grand Designs, TV Show Presenter & Designer

“There are lots of simple things you can do to a room to improve it without spending lots of money.. So, think about where you lack space elsewhere. Could one end of the room double up as a home office, neatly tucked away into an alcove or hidden in a cupboard? Could good storage give you a play area for the kids that could be tidied away in the evening?” – Clare Steel, Designer & Author

EZ Living Interiors
www.ezlivinginteriors.com

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