Mixing apps and decorating may sound like a surefire shortcut to getting paint all over your iPad,but according to one interiors design journalist,the use of programs and apps on portable gadgets could be the future for redesigning your hallway,bedroom or stairs.
Interiors writer Ellie Tennant notes that the popularity of apps has made decorating your home easier,from finding that spot-on paint colour to imagining a room in a different shade-and,crucially,learning how to do it yourself.
"I know some companies now allow you to scan the packaging and it will show you the instructions,"says Ellie."But also,as well as having instructions of the tub or product,with lots of companies you can actually go to their website and in a few seconds you can see a video showing you exactly how to do it.
"Someone from that company using that product is the best teacher,really."
And with all that time freed up that you would normally spend on the phone to your dad trying to figure out what a spirit level does,Ellie advises homeowners focus more on those niggling jobs that can make a property look that much better.
"I would say getting those little tasks done is the best way to change the whole look of a room,"says Ellie."We bought a Victorian house with lots of shelves that we didn't want.Now I have holes in so many of my walls-they're small enough not to notice on a day-to-day basis,but when I actually look at the wall properly I am shocked by it.It's a small job that I should have done."
Meanwhile,apps can be used to help keep an eye on home energy usage,too.As PC Advisor reports,AlertMe is a home energy measurement service that provides a smart meter that links to both Android and iPhone apps,so you can monitor your energy usage when you're not at home.
Energy saving devices,such as LED bathroom lights and light sensors,can have an instant impact on your daily power consumption and drive down costs over the course of a year.
