Home decor is all about visualization. You see a chair on display in a store and try to visualize it in your dining room. You choose a paint chip out of thousands of hues and try to visualize how it will look on your bedroom wall.
Those who have an eye for design are able to visualize with minimal mistakes. The chair fits with their table and the paint looks perfect in the lighting of their bedroom. However, the rest of the world is left to guess how it will look and try again if the results aren’t as they intended.
One way to remove the guessing and avoid the time it takes to go back and forth to home goods stores is by visualizing the space with an app. Augmented reality apps allow you to see how a space will look, without you having to buy anything.
Augmented reality or AR is an industry that’s growing at a compound annual growth of 24.4% and is predicted to be worth $950 million by the end of next year. This technology may seem futuristic, but in reality it’s being used in a variety of different markets. One of these markets is home decor.
There are many virtual reality apps that allow you to visualize how something will look in your home. Each app has a different set of directions based on its intent. For example, if you are trying to measure the home you’ll need to take different steps than simply viewing how a couch will look in your living room. With that being said, there are general directions that can help you master these apps.
Step 1: Select Your Feature
First you’ll be selecting the feature you want. This could be anything from a new sink for the kitchen to a rug for the living room. Some apps allow you to choose specific products like items from IKEA, Pottery Barn or Target. This makes it easy to see how the appliance will look in your space and even easier to purchase it. The process saves time as well as trips to the store.
Others augmented reality apps give you generic items so you can see how something basic will fit. This is a good option if you are in the beginning stages of remodeling and aren’t sure where to start. These apps also relieve any pressure to buy a product right away. You can try many different versions before deciding on a feature.
Step 2: Scan The Room
Once the product is chosen, you’ll scan the room with the camera on your phone. Each phone will scan the room a little differently. Be sure you’re using the latest version of the app otherwise the app could crash while you are trying to scan the space.
Scan the room slowly with your device’s camera. This will give the AR software an idea of the original space. If you scan too fast, the camera won’t be able to pick up all the details. Often times the app will direct you to scan the floor so it can gauge the depth of the room.
Step 3: View Your Feature
When the room is scanned, you’ll be able to view how your feature looks in the home. Try rotating the feature and making it bigger or smaller. This will give you an idea of if it will fit naturally into the space. If it’s not a good fit, you can choose a new feature and start the process again.
Choosing The Best AR App For Your Needs
Now that you know how these apps work, you’ll want to be sure you are using the best one for your needs. To help you decide, ApartmentGuide has a list of 7 augmented reality apps to help decorate your home. From magicplan which allows you to measure your home and create a floor plan to roOomy which lets you stage a room with furniture from popular brands, these apps can make decorating a lot easier.
Read through these apps to find which one is most helpful for your home redecorating or renovation. While reading, here are some things to consider:
What stage of the project are you at?
Are you just beginning your home revamp? If so, you’ll want to start with the basics such as a floorplan or measuring the space. Although this isn’t always the most fun, it will be very helpful later on.
What are your priorities?
Why are you revamping the space? Is it to create a functional space or to update the look of the room. Know your priorities going into the project so you don’t get sidetracked and end up with a beautiful space that doesn’t serve the function you intended.
What’s your budget?
Using these apps is a blessing and a curse. The most expensive items are usually going to look better in your home than the cheaper ones. Knowing your budgetahead of time will help you rule out any decor that is out of your price range.
7 AR Apps To Try In Your Home
Not all AR apps are the same. They each have a different specialty. Here are seven options you can try when renovating your space.
- Build.com
This is an app made for remodeling the home. It specializes in home appliances and allows you to experiment with different finishes and styles.
- magicplan
This AR app will help you measure how many square feet you have in your home. This is helpful when renovating or viewing a new home. It will create a floorplan so that you know exactly how much space you have to work with.
- Graham & Brown
This company lets you visualize a new paint color or wallpaper on your wall without sampling it yourself. This app will also estimate how much wallpaper or paint you’ll need to complete the projects which save you money and time.
- ColorSnap
ColorSnap is perfect for those painting a room. It allows you to conceptualize a color palette and will also suggest complementary colors to try.
- DecorMatters
This app is made for redecorating your space. It allows you to view home furniture, decorations and art from popular stores like IKEA, Target, Overstock, WestElm, Crate&Barrel, Living Spaces and Ashley.
- roOomy
If you want to stage a room, roOomy allows you to create a custom design. This app is targeted towary homebuyers, renters and real estate agents.
- Housecraft
This app allows you to see furniture in a space, but only provides generic furniture. This works well for people who don’t want to be pressured into purchasing anything right away.