Master Home Improvement With These Great Apps

Move aside old-fashioned home improvement tools and methods, the mobile apps are taking over. No longer do people have to wait until a fresh coat of paint is dry to see how it will look like. No more complicated calculations or guessing which angles and measurements fit where. There’s a whole collection of DIY and home improvement apps out there that will do all that and much more. People already use their smartphones for everything else. And mobile technology has come so far that these devices can do almost everything but wipe people’s noses for them. Now smartphones are taking on the home, and they’re bringing a lot of innovative ideas with them.

Check out these 6 top home improvement apps that can help any aspiring homemaker spruce up their place in no time.

First, a Note On Security

The point of home improvement is to make the home better and safer for those living in it. Downloading various apps, however, can lead to decreased security in the form of malware. Mobile phones are targeted by hackers on a daily basis, and even reputable apps are a risk. Any app that doesn’t receive regular updates and whose code doesn’t include security is a risk. It’s common too, with as much as 86% of apps lacking basic security defenses. There are numerous cases of hackers getting access to the phone through an app with poor code that let them in. Once in, they can spy on the smartphone’s owner and steal all sorts of sensitive information.

Getting a VPN is a great solution to this issue. But what is a VPN, exactly? Let’s explore: A virtual private network (VPN) service protects an Android or iPhone by encrypting the network connection it uses. This connection is encrypted on the mobile app, then sent through a VPN server where it’s decrypted before connecting to a website or app’s server. This keeps outside interlopers from identifying any information sent to or from the phone. So with a VPN installed, they cannot break into the phone through a vulnerable app.

6 Apps That Make Home Improvement a Breeze

1. Paint Tester

Don’t paint and repaint until, finally, that perfect shade of color comes up. This is one of the many paint test apps out there that saves time by letting people see what paint will look like on their walls. What makes Paint Tester stand out from the rest is that it isn’t linked to any one brand. Most other apps were created specifically for major paint brands or stores and only stock their colors. Paint Tester lets people put any paint color swatch on their wall, and it will do the rest.

Get it here:

– App Store (iOS)

– Google Play (Android)

2. Home Design 3D

2D schematics are good and well, but sometimes a person needs a 3D rendering to capture what their project will look like. Build the entire house, a room, or just the area that’s going to be worked on; this app makes it simple and quick either way.

Get it here:

– App Store (iOS)

– Google Play (Android)

3. Houzz

A large part of prepping for any DIY or home renovation project is finding inspiration. Sometimes people have a clear idea of what they want, but for those other times, there are apps like Houzz. Think of it as the Pinterest of interior design with plenty of photos, advice, and ideas for new projects. It’s the interior design addict’s dream app.

Get it here:

– App Store (iOS)

– Google Play (Android)

4. Ruler

Need a tape measure in a pinch? This app was created just for that. Ruler acts as a virtual tape for both metric and US units. Just drag the pointer part on the app along the length of the item or wall. Every measurement is automatically saved for easy review later on.

Get it here:

– App Store (iOS)

– Google Play (Android)

5. DIY Tip Genius

From the eponymous magazine comes an app filled with DIY insider tips, guides, and professional tricks. This is the ultimate resource for anyone who’s looking to start a new project or finish an existing one. There are categories full of helpful advice and techniques for almost every home project under the sun.

Get it here:

– Google Play (Android)

6. RoomScan Pro

Scan each room of the house with a smartphone and build up an accurate virtual floor plan. It’s really simple to do, as well. Just hold the phone against each wall in the room and wait for it to beep. The app will record a smartphone user’s movement through the room and skillfully recreate it. All measurements can be manually edited, and other features like windows and cupboards can be added as well.

Get it here:

– App Store (iOS)

Conclusion

DIY doesn’t have to be frustrating or time-consuming. A smartphone is now a valuable tool in any homeowner’s toolbox and a fantastic way to budget and plan ahead.