Skip to main content

These home improvement apps put a toolkit and design studio in your pocket

home improvement apps, home improvement
123RF/Andrea De Martin
While many individuals may simply shell out a little cash and let someone else handle odd jobs around the house, the more industrious spirits among us may prefer to roll up sleeves and tackle these labors personally. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself — or so the saying goes.

Thankfully, for these diligent DIYers there are dozens of apps on the Play Store and the App Store to help with such handiwork. From a basic measurement converter application to a digital level, here are six of the best home improvement apps.

If instead you want to save yourself the headache — and maybe a few splinters — the ClipCall app makes it easy to hire local contractors and carpenters to do the work for you.

The Home Depot

home improvement apps home depot appIf you’re planning to tackle a DIY project around the home, odds are you will need to make a trip to your local hardware store — perhaps more than once. The Home Depot app is an easy way to quickly browse its online inventory for everything from appliances to carpeting. If the item is out of stock in store, you can easily order the product in the app.

Given the sheer size of most Home Depot locations, it can often be difficult to find some items on site. However, if you turn on the GPS and location services in the Home Depot app, it will help you find items in the store and even alert you about upcoming workshops. If you’re more of a Lowe’s person the company has a similar app to help with those odd jobs around the house.

Download now from:

ColorSnap

best home improvement apps colorsnap
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When transforming the interior design of your home, choosing a new color scheme can be one of the toughest decisions to make. Fortunately, the ColorSnap app from Sherwin-Williams allows you to virtually paint your space beforehand. You can even pinpoint specific colors in your existing photos and the app will determine the matching shade of Sherwin-Williams paint.

The app has a convenient lighting feature so that you can test this new potential color scheme in both day and night settings. Deciding how much paint you’ll need for a given project can also be rather difficult to gauge, and the ColorSnap app takes the guesswork out of the process. Simply enter the dimensions of the space you plan to paint and the app will then estimate the quantity you will need.

Download now from:

 

iHandy Carpenter

best home improvement apps ihandy carpenter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Purchasing a tool that you may only need once or twice a year can be rather annoying. Thankfully, the iHandy Carpenter app transforms your smartphone into a regular carpentry multitool. Once calibrated, the digital plumb bob allows you to easily mark vertical lines. The surface level and protractor features are also useful for an array of projects. While using the ruler, you can easily measure items larger than the screen by simply swiping left or right.

Download now from:

 

Handyman Calculator

best home improvement apps handyman calculator
Image used with permission by copyright holder

As much as most people hate the prospect of performing anything beyond basic addition and subtraction, it’s virtually impossible to complete any home improvement project without doing a little arithmetic at some point. While the stock calculator app on your phone is great for basic mathematical problems, the tool lacks the ability to complete more complicated problems.

Thankfully, the Handyman Calculator can help with everything from converting measurements to the metric system to determining density. The app even helps calculate that pesky hypotenuse angle (for individuals who may have temporarily forgotten the Pythagorean theorem).

Download now from:

HOUZZ

best home improvement apps houzz
Image used with permission by copyright holder

We reported on the Houzz app earlier this year and it’s still one of our favorite home improvement apps on the market. Similar to the ColorSnap app, Houzz allows you to decorate a virtual model of your existing living space. You can peruse an inventory of 300,000 pieces of home decor and then add the item(s) to your virtual room. If individuals like the way these furnishing look in their virtual room, they can purchase the item directly from the app.

Download now from:

 

Pinterest

best home improvement apps pinterest
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While not entirely dedicated to home improvement tasks, Pinterest is full of clever ways to spruce up your space. From unique shelving solutions to basic craft projects, Pinterest is always worth a look when it comes to spurring a little creativity. Although the app is full of helpful DIY projects, it too has its share of wonderful catastrophes, and we’ve covered some of the best Pinterest fails for your perusing pleasure.

Download now from:

 

If you are looking for apps for purposes other than home improvement, consult our guides to the best apps on Android and iOS.

Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
How to fix a Yale Assure Lock 2 that won’t connect to Wi-Fi
The Yale Assure Lock 2 Smart Lock Deadbolt keypad being used by someone.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 is one of the best smart locks, as it's available in a variety of formats and makes it easy to keep tabs on your front door when away from home. Much of this functionality is driven by support for Wi-Fi connections on select models, as you can quickly connect the unit to your home network and access all its features via its companion mobile app.

However, some users may notice their Yale Assure Lock 2 appears offline or that it's no longer connected to Wi-Fi. It can be a frustrating issue to deal with, as a lock that's offline won't let you access its best features – meaning you'll want to get it back online as soon as possible.

Read more
Get 50% off these incredible scent diffusers to luxuriate your living space
Hotel Collection scent diffuser with unique oils on sale

An excellent and convenient way to fill your home with luxurious, aromatic scents is to employ a diffuser, an electronic device that turns perfume-like oils into mist and disperses it into the surrounding air, in this case, the air in your living space or home. Hotel Collection is our favorite place to shop for new diffusers, supplies like oils, and other notable accessories. And wouldn't you know it? Right now, they're offering 50% off large diffusers when you use code JUSTFORYOU50 at checkout. That remarkable deal allows you to save half of the biggest diffusers from Hotel Collection, like the Penthouse or the Presidential models. They offer coverage for areas from 1,200 square feet up to 6,000 square feet, which means your entire home will smell splendid. Act soon because the deal will be over before you know it.
Shop Now
 
Why you should buy a Hotel Collection scent diffuser for your home
You deserve a true sanctuary to come home to. Not just one that is clean and inviting but also smells divine, like the scent of homecooked baking, fresh linens, or . You know, the kind of encapsulating scents befitting of an elegant hotel -- only within the comfort of your home. That's precisely what Hotel Collection diffusers and scents can bring into your livable spaces.

Starting with the diffusers that make it all happen, there are a variety of options, from small, like the Studio Pro Scent Diffuser, which covers up to 600 square feet, to extra-large, like the Double Presidential Scent Diffuser, which covers up to 6,00 square feet. Whatever the size of your home, property, or living space, from condos to mansions, Hotel Collection has you covered.

Read more
How to format the microSD card on Tapo security cameras
The Tapo C120 out in the rain.

One of the most compelling features of Tapo products (like the Wire-Free 2K Outdoor Cam and Indoor/Outdoor Cam) is support for local storage. Many Tapo security cameras let you install a microSD card, so you don't have to rely on cloud storage to save all your videos – instead, they're neatly stored right on your camera. Before you can start using local storage, however, you'll need to format your microSD card. Tapo has some pretty strict requirements for how this works, but the process itself is remarkably simple.

Ready to start saving all your video clips locally? Here's how to format the microSD card on your Tapo security camera.

Read more