Here are ways to redecorate from your couch :
Get inspired
Great ideas can be found by flipping through home décor magazines or store catalogs, or by scrolling through Pinterest and making mood boards, an arrangement of images to convey the design style you want to achieve. Olioboard.com lets people create two and three dimensional designs using products from their favorite brands, which then link to retailers’ sites for purchase. It says it also offer a community of home décor experts. Also, check out stores’ mobile apps.
Embrace new technology
More apps and tools are using augmented reality and virtual reality technology, which is expected to become more widespread. That means no more buying extra paint for samples or paying return fees on a chair that turns out to be too big for the room. Wayfair is set to release an augmented reality app in September for Google Tango, which uses software and sensors to track motions and size up the contours of rooms. The Wayfair tool lets people see how pieces of furniture or décor will look and fit in their homes through the display on a smartphone. In Wayfair’s virtual reality experience, shoppers use headgear that allows them to customize a room by setting the model, material and layout of the furnishings. Right now, the items for the virtual reality app are limited to patio furniture but that will be expanded eventually. Home Depot has an app that allows customers upload the picture of a room and thumb through thousands of paint and stain colors until they arrive at one that’s right. The app can detect the lighting, shadows and other variables in the space or project and adapt the color to fit.
Connect with local pros
Adding to free review sites like Yelp and membership programs like Angie’s List, Amazon.com has launched a service in cities like New York, Atlanta and San Diego that lets customers locate nearby professionals for jobs like painting, and even interior design. The options for finding professionals online are growing. Wayfair has also teamed up with the Porch.com directory to connect shoppers with home professionals in more than a dozen markets. Shoppers who need help with tasks will be able to set up an appointment with contractors, electricians, painters and more to pay for services when they check out. Porch also is working with Lowe’s at the home improvement retailer’s 1,700 store nationwide. Lowe’s features Porch.com signage in its stores, and Lowe’s workers pitch the Porch.com website to shoppers looking for a professional.
