Interior Design Apps That Are (Almost) Better Than Pinterest

(Image credit: Design by Morgan McMullen)

last updated 4 September 2021

I'm convinced the top three moments in a woman's life are her first job acceptance, her wedding day (if she chooses to get married!), and the first time she's able to decorate her own space. After you've put the down payment on your house (opens in new tab) or signed the lease to your apartment, these free interior decorating apps, below, will not only give you inspo for days—they'll help make your new place finally feel like the home you deserve.

1. IKEA Place

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While strolling through IKEA can feel like both a dream and a nightmare, the massive furniture store's IKEA Place app allows users to take true-to-scale models of Ikea furniture and reimagine them in their own home. Even if you don't end up buying any items, it will give you an idea of what size pieces will work in that hopelessly tiny corner. Technology!

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2. Houzz

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Not only will Houzz inspire you with its selection of furniture and decor available for purchase, it will also connect you to local design experts and contractors to help create your ideal space. The best part? It's completely free.

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3. MagicPlan

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Designing a home isn't all about picking out pretty furniture and choosing a new paint color—it begins with the non-sexy logistics like measuring and drawing floor plans to make sure everything will fit. That's where MagicPlan comes in.

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4. Havenly

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For those of us who are new to the interior design world (mainly because we've never owned our own place before!), Havenly is here to help with its real-time capability to chat with a designer on the best way to transform your new space and later shop a list of items on your wish list.

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5. Project Color By The Home Depot

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If you're the type of person who sets a calendar reminder for the annual reveal of Pantone's Color of the Year, you'll appreciate Home Depot's Project Color app that allows users to choose from hundreds of paint colors and see how they would look in their home simply by snapping a pic and uploading it to the app. Voilà.

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Rachel Epstein is a writer, editor, and content strategist based in New York City. Most recently, she was the Managing Editor at Coveteur, where she oversaw the site’s day-to-day editorial operations. Previously, she was an editor at Marie Claire, where she wrote and edited culture, politics, and lifestyle stories ranging from op-eds to profiles to ambitious packages. She also launched and managed the site’s virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. Offline, she’s likely watching a Heat game or finding a new coffee shop.