Best interior design apps – 6 downloads that'll help you become a decorating expert

Interior design apps have come a long way, and now technology can really help you decorate your home better. From curating mood boards to finding inspiration, or getting help with your room's layout, there's more help in the app store than ever before. 

What's also wonderful is that most of these are free to download and suited to iOS or Android, so downloading the latest apps to aid in your interior design ventures is easy, quick, and convenient. You can shop, design, view furniture, measure your room, create a gallery wall, or consult a professional in real-time for all your needs. 

If you're itching for a redesign, then there are several apps just for you. Take a look at our list. 

6 interior design apps that'll keep you glued to your phone

It sounds exciting to design a space but when it comes to it, the entire process can be stressful and confusing. There's so much to consider, from settling on a budget, and designating enough time in your already packed schedule, to color-matching things and finding the right products. Some people believe that hiring a professional for a job like this is a luxury but with apps, things can become much easier.

We found Havenly to be the most helpful and budget-friendly site for this purpose. All you need to do is choose a room you'd like to design, answer a series of questions about your style, and based on that, get connected to a professional. Over a phone call, the expert will learn more about your vision, and ideas for the space. Once all the details are in, he/she will create a concept brief for you and suggest a design scheme. What we particularly liked was that the professional also hands you a personal shopping list, making your task of designing even simpler.

Once the consultation is over and based on the suggestions and interior design trends laid out by the expert, you can look for furniture, accessories, and more to populate your room. The app also handles order placement and scheduling for your deliveries. Convenient? We think so! 

Whether you're a designer or a layman, taking measurements and drawing up floor plans can be tedious and confusing. This is why we liked MagicPlan. By using a phone or tablet, you can simply walk around a room, point and tap, and create a beautifully accurate floor plan in seconds. As we experimented with the app, we noticed that it computes distances throughout the home through a simple photo, and gives measurements so apt, your sofa will never get stuck in the door again! The only drawback we faced was that the app can sometimes glitch, but regardless, it's a useful tool. 

To use the app, you will be prompted to calibrate the device by laying it flat on a level surface. Once calibrated, the app will allow you to download, practice, or create plans. Plus, the in-app videos will guide you through the process. The wonderful benefit is that plans created are fairly accurate, and can be exported as a PDF, JPEG, DXF, CVS, PNG or SVG. Now, no need to hire an interior designer for the job.

If you love interior design, or are simply looking to download a new game on your phone, the virtual game Design Home should be on your list. It allows you to live the life of an interior decorator, work on your design skills and create beautiful 3D spaces. With Design Home, you can create a home, fill it up with furniture and accessories and even customize every detail. We spent hours choosing wallpapers, accent rugs, and more to make the space as real-life as possible!

The app provides daily design challenges to style three-dimensional spaces. If you unlock 'My Homes' within the app, you can access bathrooms, kitchens and, more. Plus, the app allows you to connect with a vibrant creative community while learning about diverse décor styles and color trends.

IKEA Kreativ is built on machine learning and spatial imaging technology. While using the app, we were able to take a 3D scan of a room, remove existing furniture items or clutter by replacing them with the IKEA products and create a completely fresh interior. The delete-and-replace-furniture capability is a mirroring of the Google Pixel 6's Magic Eraser.

The app invites users to explore IKEA products in 50 inspirational 3D showrooms where they can swap, rotate, stack, and hang different objects. The LiDAR-enabled IKEA Kreative Scene Scanner allows users to create close-to-reality virtual replicas of their spaces in accurate dimensions and perspectives. Post this, can they add products directly to their cart and spruce up their space whatever size, whether big or a tiny studio apartment. 

At present, the app is only available on iOS devices (and the web); the Android version be out in a few months' time. 

Ever noticed an art piece in a gallery and wondered how it would look in your bedroom? You aren't the first to have second thoughts about your gallery wall at home. Many-a-times homeowners, due to the inability to visualize, let go of beautiful art purchases, worried that the piece may not fit into the theme, look and style of their home.

But now there is ArtSee. We love that the app has a list of works from galleries and independent artists that can be easily previewed on a wall in any room of the home. All you need to do is take a photo of the room and paste the artwork on top. The app uses the exact dimensions of the painting and the room, so you get a real-life sense of how it will look. 

Love design and are always itching to create mood boards? Morpholio Board app is just for you. This game-changing app allows users to lay out mood boards, choose wonderful color ideas for living rooms, bedrooms and more, plus mock up design ideas and collages using items from a wonderfully curated selection of furnishings and accessories, from small and large brands alike. The only hiccup we encountered was that the Mac and iPhone versions are not cohesive.

On this app you can crop, edit and filter the images you use, and share your creations on spreadsheets, PSD files, jpgs and more. While you can enjoy a free trial, the yearly subscription is at $11.99.

Is there a free app to design rooms?

Whether you live in a city apartment, a penthouse, or even a modern farmhouse, designing your space your way is not only fun but also exciting and liberating. Thankfully, the internet is full of ideas and free apps to help you along the process.

If you're looking to download apps and try them out, free of charge, then some of the fun ones are Planner 5D, which allows you to design a virtual room with the smallest architectural details. Roomstyler will allow you to upload your floor plan and insert products and elements to redesign the space, giving you new ideas along the way. The Home Renovator lets you choose from drywall, paint, ceramic tile, and deck projects to give your home a makeover. Finally, with HomeByMe, you could build a 2D structure from the ground up, finishing with furniture and accessories.