Your phone isn’t just for texting, scrolling, or binge-watching footy matches—it’s your secret weapon for home design.
That’s right, with the help of some brilliant (and mostly free) apps, you can channel your inner designer and transform your home without ever leaving the couch.
No more debating endlessly in furniture store aisles or worrying about return policies. These apps make it easy, fun and a little addictive to create the space of your dreams. So, grab your phone, and let’s explore some of the coolest design tools out there!
IKEA Kreativ
Now, this first app won’t help you tear out the bathroom tiles or redo the kitchen bench. But if you are looking to recreate the function, form and style of a dreamy IKEA showroom, look no further than IKEA’s Kreativ app.
With a little help from AI, you can scan your room, wave goodbye to your old furniture (virtually, of course), and replace it with IKEA’s catalogue pieces.
Want to try out that sleek new armchair? Or maybe overhaul your entire space with one of 50 pre-designed rooms? Done and done! Once you’ve nailed the look, just save your design and add your picks to the cart.
And best of all, it’s completely free. So chop and change furniture as much as you like.
Houzz app
Have big renovation plans? Or maybe just a small refresh? Houzz is your go-to app for all things design. Aussies can dive into a treasure trove of over 11 million high-res photos to find your style, all of which can be saved to an “Ideabook” (think Pinterest, but make it pro).
From there, you can even connect with architects and designers in-app to turn your ideas into a reality – it’s like having a design team in your pocket.
Similar to IKEA’s Kreative, Houzz is a great free find for budding renovators. Just keep in mind that while the designs are free to look at, you will have to fork over some cash to any contractors you connect with to get the job done.
Room Planner
Think of Room Planner: Home Design 3D as Houzz’s artsy, creative cousin. It’s less about finding the perfect design for your room and more about crafting your dream home from scratch.
Users can make either 2D or 3D floor plans and fill them with over 125,000 different products, paints and furniture from real-world brands across the country to make a “photorealistic” rendition of your dream room.
But just like Houzz, you do have a little help from the millions of designs on hand for inspo and you can even see what rooms and layouts other users have shared in their portfolios to inspire your own home reno creations.
Once you’re happy with the final look, you can share your vision with your partner or even send it off to contractors for review.
The app does come at a cost though, with subscriptions ranging from $9.99 a week for a base plan all the way up to $110.99 for a full year.
Reece’s Imagin3D Bathroom Planner
Bathroom reno’s these days don’t come cheap. From planning and waterproofing to tiling and fixtures, you’re looking at dropping at least $26,000 on a full rework – so you better get it right the first time.
Luckily, Reece’s Plumbing has dropped their handy free Imagin3D virtual tool to take almost all of the guesswork out of your next bathroom build.
Simply access the app through the website, plug in your room dimensions and experiment to your heart’s content with layouts, tiles and fixtures and watch your ideas come to life in 3D.
When everything looks just right, just click ‘complete’ and the app even hands you a detailed shopping list and cost summary.
MagicPlan
Hate the hassle of creating floor plans? Well, say hello to MagicPlan, the app that makes it a breeze. All you need to do is snap a few photos of your space, and—abracadabra!—a detailed floor plan appears, complete with eerily accurate measurements of your room layout.
While originally intended for contractors to get a quick and easy plan up and running out of the gate, homeowners can also take advantage of the app for furniture placement, measurements, or just jot down notes for your makeover.
The only downside? You will have to pay for MagicPlan, with subscription fees ranging from $12.99/month all the way to $89.99/month depending on the plan.
However, first-time users can take advantage of two free floor plans free of charge, so it’s worth a try before you buy.
3D Kaboodle Planner
Calling all kitchen lovers! Whether you’re dreaming of a complete remodel or just updating your cabinets, 3D Kaboodle Planner has your back.
This Bunnings app lets you design your kitchen, laundry, or cabinetry projects from scratch. Just choose your layouts, experiment with finishes, and get inspiration from their style quiz if you’re feeling stuck.
Costing renovators a total of $0 to use, it’s a one-stop shop for turning your cooking space into a masterpiece.
Measure App
Sometimes, it’s the simplest tools that pack the biggest punch. While it won’t help you refloor your kitchen or retile your shower, the Measure app (already built into your iPhone) is the unsung hero of home projects.
Left your measuring tape at home? No worries—just point your phone, and this app uses augmented reality to measure distances or objects.
Bonus: It doubles as a level, so you’ll never hang a crooked picture again.
