Home Decor App Development: The Ultimate Guide

Amidst the bustle of modernity… aesthetics and decorations hold a special place in our hearts when it comes to decorating our homes. 

From ensuring the perfect color coordination between our furniture and walls to creating a captivating ambiance with beautifully designed ceilings and artistic accents, home decor has become an essential aspect of creating our ideal living spaces. However, the process of curating and designing our homes can often be a hassle, requiring careful thought, planning, and execution.

But what if we tell you…now you can design and decorate your home interiors in any way you can, minus the inconvenience and hassle. Sounds unbelievable?

Home Decor mobile applications have become indispensable tools for anyone seeking to beautify their living spaces with ease and style. These apps leverage the concepts of augmented and virtual reality to provide you with an array of furniture, accessories, color schemes, and decor ideas. 

With just a few taps on your device, you can browse countless products and visualize how they would look in your space. Whether you’re a seasoned decorator or a novice in interior design, these apps can provide inspiration and practical solutions for every kind of home setting.

In this blog, we will explore the intricacies of developing a perfect home decor app. We will also provide the exact developmental guidelines following which you can develop your own custom home decor app.

So without further ado, let’s start!

Overview of the growing popularity of home decor apps

The global home decor mobile applications market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.20%, from $964.9 billion in 2023  to approximately $58.99 billion in 2032. The market is divided into four regions North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world. Europe’s home decor market is predicted to develop the quickest among the regions, followed by North America. The German home decor market holds the largest market share in Europe, while the UK’s home decor industry is experiencing the fastest growth.

Several factors, including the increasing popularity of online shopping, the growing demand for personalized home decor, and the rising adoption of smartphones and tablets, drive this growth. Additionally, recent developments in the field of AR, VR, and AI in recent times are deemed to propel this growth.

What are Home Decor Apps?

Explained simply, home decor apps are digital applications that you can install on your smartphone or tablet. They are designed to assist you in decorating your home and creating a visually appealing and harmonious living space. 

The apps use augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), computer vision, machine learning, and cloud computing to offer users a seamless and immersive experience in scouting and visualizing different decor options for their homes. They provide a wide range of features and tools that allow exploring different design ideas, experimenting with furniture arrangements, visualizing colors and patterns, and even virtually placing decor items within home interiors. Essentially, they are like your personal interior design assistants, offering inspiration, guidance, and convenience right at your fingertips. 

How does a home decor app work?

A home decor app is designed to help users with various aspects of decorating their homes. Here’s a general overview of how a typical home decor app works:

I. Installation and Account Setup:

Users download the app from an app store and create an account by providing their basic information or signing up with their social media accounts.

II. User Profile and Preferences: 

After creating an account, users may be prompted to set up their profile and preferences. This could include selecting their preferred decorating style, budget range, room sizes, color schemes, and any specific requirements or preferences they have.

III. Browse and Discover: 

The app offers a wide range of home decor items, furniture, accessories, and design ideas for users to browse and discover. Users can explore different categories, styles, and themes to find inspiration for their home decor projects.

IV. Visualize and Augmented Reality (AR): 

Many home decor apps integrate augmented reality technology, allowing users to visualize how different items or furniture would look in their actual space. Users can use their device’s camera to virtually place furniture, rugs, or other decor items in their rooms, helping them make better decisions before purchasing.

V. Personalization and Recommendations: 

Based on the user’s profile, preferences, and browsing history, the app may offer personalized recommendations for furniture pieces, decor items, or design ideas. These recommendations are tailored to the user’s style, budget, and other factors to enhance the user experience.

VI. Product Details and Reviews: 

When users find a specific item they like, they can view detailed product information, including dimensions, materials, pricing, and customer reviews. This helps users make informed decisions about the items they are interested in.

VII. Shopping and Purchasing: 

Home decor apps often provide a seamless shopping experience, allowing users to add items to their cart, apply discounts or coupons if available, and proceed to the checkout. Some apps may redirect users to external websites or partner stores to complete the purchase.

VIII. DIY Guides and Tutorials: 

Some home decor apps provide DIY (Do-It-Yourself) guides, tutorials, or step-by-step instructions for various home improvement projects. These resources can help users with tasks like painting, arranging furniture, or creating decorative elements.

IX. Save and Organize: 

Users can save their favorite items, design ideas, or inspiration images within the app. This feature helps users organize their preferences and refer back to them later during their home decor journey.

X. Social Sharing and Community: 

Many home decor apps have social features that allow users to share their decor projects, ideas, or items they purchased with others in the app’s community. Users can engage with other users, receive feedback, and get inspired by the creativity of others.

Effective use cases of home decor app development for business owners 

As a business owner, incorporating a home decor app into your strategy can bring numerous benefits and opportunities. Here are some effective use cases of home decor app development for business owners:

i) Increased Reach and Customer Engagement

That app can allow you to reach a wider audience and engage with customers beyond your physical store. With the app, you can showcase your products, offer design ideas, and inspire customers to explore your offerings.

ii) Virtual Showroom Experience

You can provide your customers with a virtual showroom experience where they can visualize your products in their own homes. With augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) features, customers can see how furniture, decor, and paint colors will look in their space, boosting their confidence in making a purchase.

iii) Seamless Online Shopping

A customized and feature-rich app provides a convenient platform for customers to browse and purchase your products. Integrate secure payment gateways to facilitate seamless and secure transactions, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

iv) Personalized Recommendations

You can utilize customer data and preferences to offer personalized product recommendations. By analyzing customer behavior, purchase history, and design preferences, you can provide tailored suggestions, increasing the chances of upselling and cross-selling.

v) Collaborations with Interior Designers

You can also partner with interior designers and offer their services through your app. This allows customers to work with professionals to create customized designs, while you benefit from additional revenue streams and strengthened brand positioning.

vi) Data Analytics and Insights

The app’s analytics capabilities can be leveraged to gather valuable insights into customer preferences, popular trends, and buying patterns. This data can guide your business decisions, optimize your product offerings, and tailor marketing strategies.

vii) Loyalty Programs and Exclusive Offers

Lastly, you can implement loyalty programs within the app to reward customers for their engagement and purchases. Provide exclusive discounts, promotions, and early access to new collections, fostering a sense of exclusivity and encouraging repeat business.

In these ways, you can enhance your decor business’s online presence, create immersive experiences for customers, and tap into the growing demand for convenient and personalized shopping experiences in the home decor industry.

Key Features and Functionality of Home Decor Apps

I. Design Tools

These apps provide users with tools to design and decorate their homes virtually. Users can experiment with furniture placement, wall colors, flooring, and lighting to create their desired look.

II. Themes, Color Schemes, and Ideas

The apps provide inspiration, offering various design ideas, styles, and trends. Users can explore different themes, color schemes, and decor options to find inspiration for their own spaces.

III. Real-time visualization

With the help of augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) technologies, users can visualize how different furniture and decor items would look in their actual space. They can virtually place and interact with these items to see how they fit and complement the existing environment.

IV. Product Catalogs

These apps often feature extensive catalogs of furniture, accessories, and decor items from various retailers and brands. Users can browse through these catalogs, view detailed product information, and compare prices to find the perfect pieces for their homes.

V. Room Measurement and Layout Planning

Home decor apps also include tools for measuring rooms and creating floor plans. Users can input the dimensions of their spaces, arrange furniture virtually, and plan their layouts accordingly.

VI. Sharing and Collaboration

Many home decor apps allow users to share their designs with others. They can showcase their creativity, seek feedback, or collaborate with friends, family, or professionals to refine their ideas.

VII. Shopping and Purchasing

Some home decor apps offer integrated shopping functionalities, allowing users to directly purchase furniture and decor items within the app. This streamlines the shopping process and provides a convenient way to bring their design visions to life.

VIII. Expert Consultation

Certain apps provide expert tips, tutorials, and design advice to assist users in making informed decisions. They offer guidance on color coordination, styling tips, and practical solutions to common design challenges.

Along with these, there are also additional features one can embed into their app serving greater usability, functionality, and interest for the masses.

Unique Functionality in Home Decor Apps

i. VR Visualization

Imagine putting on special glasses and stepping into a virtual world where users can see and walk through your dream home. With VR visualization, users can explore your designs in a realistic 3D environment, making it feel like they’re really there.

ii. Furniture, Decor, and Layout Editing in VR

Instead of just looking at AR-generated concept pictures or videos, users may actually interact with virtual furniture and decor items. By wearing VR glasses, they can move objects around, change colors, and experiment with different layouts. This would give them hands-on experience in designing their space.

iii. Gamification

Home decor apps can turn the design process into a fun game. Users can earn points or rewards for creating beautiful designs and participate in community voting, where others can appreciate and vote for their favorite designs. These points can be later used as discounts when purchasing furniture or decor items within the app.

iv. In-app Chatting 

Chatting with fellow users who share the same passion for decor would be fun. This feature would let users chat and connect with other users, share ideas, get feedback, and build a sense of community.

These unique functionalities in home decor apps would take the experience to a whole new level, allowing the user to visualize designs in virtual reality, edit and arrange items easily, turn the process into a game, and connect with a community of like-minded individuals.

Planning and Preparing for Home Decor App Development

So, are you ready to develop your custom home decor app?

If you are, then here’s how you should start. 

Before jumping into the developmental intricacies, there are three things that you need to be certain about.

i) Defining the Scope of the Project

Clearly defining the goals and scope of the app development is crucial. This includes: 

• Determining the target platforms (such as iOS and Android),
• Identifying the desired features (AR simulation, social sharing, in-app purchases, online payments, push notifications, etc.). 
• Considering the target geography for the initial launch.

ii) Selecting the App Development Lifecycle Model

Different Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) models exist, and choosing the right one for home decor app development is essential. 

Launching a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and iterating based on market response often benefits from an Agile SDLC model. Factors to consider include project requirements, time constraints, flexibility, and the team’s experience and preferences. Else, you can also go for Waterfall or Scrum SDLC if you think phase-wise working is something you prefer more.

iii) Hiring Expert Developers for Your Project

Hiring skilled developers with experience in app development is crucial to ensure the project’s success. Firstly, look for developers with expertise in the required technologies and platforms. 

Then conside r their previous projects, portfolios, and client testimonials to evaluate their capabilities. Next, check their communication skills, ability to work collaboratively, and their understanding of the home decor industry. 

You may also seek recommendations and conduct interviews to assess their technical proficiency and compatibility with your project.

Once these three aspects are done, you can proceed to the development phase.

Building a Home Decor App

I. Formulating an App Development Approach

Plan the development process by breaking it down into manageable milestones. This ensures progress tracking and timely completion of key tasks such as UI/UX design, database development, feature implementation, and testing.

Consider using technologies and frameworks that are well-suited for home decor app development. 

For example, consider using Flutter for cross-platform development, Firebase for real-time database and user authentication, and React Native for native app experiences. These technologies provide a balance between efficiency and performance.

Building a Scrum Team

Adopting the Scrum methodology can greatly benefit app development. It encourages flexibility, collaboration, and iterative development. Assign roles within the Scrum team, including business analysts, UI designers, Android developers (with Kotlin skills), and iOS developers (with Swift experience).

Leveraging MBaaS Platform

Mobile Backend as a Service (MBaaS) platforms like Firebase can simplify development by providing ready-to-use backend infrastructure and services. It allows you to focus on app development rather than managing server infrastructure. 

Consider Firebase for its ease of use, scalability, and features such as cloud storage, real-time database, and push notifications.

Implementing Augmented Reality (AR) Engine

Integrating AR technology is crucial for delivering realistic virtual home decor experiences. 

Consider using ARKit (for iOS) or ARCore (for Android), as they provide robust AR capabilities and extensive developer support. These engines enable features like placing virtual furniture in real environments, room measurements, and interactive 3D visualization.

II. Enhancing User Experience and Functionality

Enabling Social Sharing through API/SDK Integration

Incorporating social media sharing functionality for users to share their designs on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media platforms can greatly enhance user experience. 

For example, integrate the Facebook Graph API to allow users to share their designs on Facebook. This API provides seamless integration with the Facebook platform, allowing users to post their home decor designs directly from the app to their Facebook profiles. Leveraging the Facebook SDK ensures smooth functionality and easy sharing options.

To implement Twitter sharing functionality, you can integrate the Twitter API by following the documentation and guidelines provided by Twitter. This integration will enable users to post their home decor designs, thoughts, or updates to their Twitter feed effortlessly.

Implementing In-App Purchases

Offering in-app purchases in your home decor app allows users to access additional design elements or premium features. 

By integrating an in-app purchase API/SDK solution like Google Play Billing (for Android) or StoreKit (for iOS), you can enable secure and convenient transactions within the app. These solutions provide a reliable and user-friendly experience, allowing users to enhance their home decor projects with a wide range of options.

Facilitating Online Payments

Integrating online payment gateways into your app will ensure seamless transactions for purchasing furniture, decor items, or premium features. 

Consider utilizing trusted payment gateway APIs like PayPal, Stripe, or Braintree to enable secure and convenient online payments. These API solutions offer robust security measures, simple integration processes, and support for various payment methods, providing users with a seamless and trustworthy payment experience.

Implementing Push Notifications

Push notifications effectively engage and inform users about updates, new features, and promotions within your home decor app. 

By integrating services like Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) for Android or Apple Push Notification Service (APNs) for iOS, you can send personalized notifications to users, keeping them engaged and informed. These API solutions offer easy integration, advanced targeting options, and reliable delivery, ensuring users stay connected with the app and receive timely updates.

III. Design and Development Process

Mobile App UI Design

Creating an intuitive and visually appealing user interface is crucial for a home decor app. Ensure that the UI design is user-friendly and engaging, with easy navigation and clear visual cues. 

Use a clean and modern design approach, incorporating appropriate colors, typography, and imagery to enhance the overall aesthetics. Consider using design tools like Sketch or Figma to create interactive prototypes and gather feedback from potential users to refine the UI design.

Developing an Android App

To develop an Android version of the home decor app, you need to follow the Android development guidelines to ensure compatibility and consistency across devices. 

Use Android Studio, the official IDE for Android app development, to write code in Java or Kotlin. Pay attention to optimizing performance and user experience by implementing efficient algorithms, minimizing resource usage, and conducting thorough testing on various Android devices and screen sizes. 

Consider leveraging popular libraries like Retrofit for API integration and Glide for image loading to streamline development.

Coding, Testing, and Publishing an iOS App

For an iOS app, follow Apple’s guidelines and use Xcode, the official IDE for iOS app development. 

Write code in Swift, Apple’s recommended programming language, to develop the app’s functionality. Conduct comprehensive testing to identify and resolve any bugs or compatibility issues. Ensure the app meets Apple’s design, performance, and security guidelines. 

Once testing is complete, submit the app to the App Store for review and approval. Consider using tools like XCTest for unit testing and TestFlight for beta testing to ensure a smooth and reliable user experience.

Additional Tips for Home Decor App Development

Tip 1. Reviewing Popular Home Design Apps

Take the time to analyze existing home design apps like Planner 5D and Wayfair. Identify their strengths and weaknesses, paying attention to features, user interface, and overall user experience. 

Learn from their successes and shortcomings to enhance your own app’s features and provide a more enjoyable user experience.

Tip 2. Exploring Software Solutions for Enhanced Capabilities

Third-party software solutions can greatly enhance the functionality and features of your home decor app. 

Look for tools and technologies to augment your app’s capabilities, such as ARKit for augmented reality experiences, Firebase for real-time data synchronization, or Stripe for secure payment processing. 

Evaluate the suitability of these solutions based on your app’s specific requirements and choose those that align with your development goals.

Tip 3. Prioritizing Application Security

Ensure that data security and user privacy are prioritized in your home decor app. Implement robust security measures such as secure user authentication, data encryption, and secure communication protocols. 

Consider using security frameworks like OWASP Mobile Top 10 and follow best practices for data protection to safeguard user information. 

Regularly update your app with security patches and conduct thorough security testing to identify and address any vulnerabilities.

Tip 4. Building Custom APIs

Developing custom APIs for specific app functionalities can provide flexibility and customization options. 

Identify areas in your home decor app where custom APIs can streamline processes, improve performance, or integrate with external systems. Follow industry-standard practices to design and develop APIs, ensuring they are well-documented, scalable, and secure. 

Consider using frameworks like Express.js or Django for API development and leverage cloud platforms like AWS or Google Cloud for hosting and managing your APIs.

Top Home Decor Applications of 2023

1. Houzz

Houzz is a free app that allows users to browse through millions of photos of home interiors, get inspiration from professional designers, and choose from a wide array of designer products to fit their living space.

Founded in: 2009

Revenue (annually): $340 million

Rating: 4.8/5

2. Planner 5D

Planner 5D is also an open-source app that allows users to create 2D and 3D floor plans of their homes, furnish them with virtual furniture, and get an estimate of the cost of their project.

Founded in: 2011

Revenue (annually): $3.3 million

Rating: 4.3/5

3. Homestyler-Interior Home Design

Homestyler is another free app that provides users with a variety of resources for home design. Users can browse through millions of photos of home interiors, get inspiration from professional designers, and find products to buy. The app is a great resource for anyone looking for ideas for their home, whether they are just starting or looking for a new way to update their existing space.

Founded in: 2014

Revenue (annually): $17.1 million

Rating: 4.5/5

4. Room Planner

Room Planner is also a free application that empowers users to design and visualize their living spaces by crafting detailed 2D and 3D floor plans. With the ability to adorn virtual layouts with various virtual furniture, users can effortlessly explore different design possibilities and gain valuable project cost estimates.

Founded in: 2011

Revenue: $400,000/month

Rating: 4.6/5

5. Havenly

Havenly is a premium application that allows users to collaborate with experienced interior designers to craft personalized home designs. Through this paid service, users can create unique and tailored designs that perfectly suit their individual preferences and transform their homes into captivating spaces.

Founded in: 2014

Revenue (annually): $16.3 million

Rating: 4.5/5

Conclusion

The possibilities for transforming our living spaces through home decor apps are endless. By leveraging the insights shared in this blog, you can create a captivating and user-friendly app that fulfills the needs of design enthusiasts and homeowners alike.

To successfully develop a home decor app, it is crucial to define the project scope, select the right SDLC model, hire skilled developers, and formulate a development approach. Leveraging AR engines, social media APIs/SDKs, in-app purchases, online payment gateways, and push notifications can further enhance the app’s functionality and user engagement.

We also recommend reviewing popular home design apps for inspiration and learning from their strengths and weaknesses. Exploring software solutions, prioritizing application security, and building custom APIs can also provide tailored functionalities to meet specific requirements.

Lastly, choosing the right app development partner is equally crucial to the success of your app. We recommend choosing Idea Usher as your development partner. With our extensive expertise in mobile app development, we can help transform your vision into a feature-rich and visually stunning home decor app. Our skilled professionals will guide you throughout development, ensuring a seamless and successful execution.

Get in touch with us now!

FAQs

Q) How to create a home decor app?

A) Follow these five steps to create a home decor app:

1. Define your app’s purpose. What do you want your app to do? Will it be a marketplace for home decor products, a design tool, or something else?

2. Research the competition. What other home decor apps are out there? What features do they offer? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

3. Develop a prototype. Once you have a good idea of what your app will do, you need to create a prototype. This will help you test your ideas and get feedback from users.

4. Find developers and designers. If you don’t have the skills to develop your app yourself, you’ll need to find developers and designers to help you.

5. Market your app. Once your app is complete, you need to market it so people know about it. You can do this through online and offline channels.

Q) How to make money in home decor?

A) There are different ways to make money in home decor. You can:

1. Sell home decor products directly to consumers.

2. Offer design services to clients.

3. Write a home decor blog or website.

4. Create and sell home decor products via your platform or app.

Q) Is home decor a good business?

A) The home decor industry is a large and growing market, so there is plenty of potential for businesses to succeed. If you are passionate about it and willing to do the work, you can earn well from it. However, it is important to note that the home decor industry is also very competitive. To be successful, you need to offer unique products or services that set you apart from the competition.

Q) What apps do interior designers use?

A) Interior designers use a variety of apps to help them with their work. Some of the most popular apps include:

Houzz: Houzz is a home design and remodeling platform that allows users to find inspiration, plan projects, and get quotes from professionals.

Planner 5D: Planner 5D is a 3D home design app that allows users to create realistic models of their homes.

Room Planner: Room Planner is another 3D home design app that is easy to use and free to download.

Havenly: Havenly is a home design app that allows users to collaborate with other users and professionals on home design projects.

Q) What app does diy home decor use?

A) There are several apps that DIY home decorators can use to help them with their projects. Some of the most popular apps include:

Pinterest: Pinterest is a great resource for finding inspiration for DIY home decor projects.

YouTube: YouTube has a wealth of tutorials on how to do everything from painting furniture to making your own curtains.

Houzz: Houzz, as mentioned above, is a home design and remodeling platform that also has a section dedicated to DIY projects.

The Home Depot: The Home Depot has a mobile app that allows users to browse their inventory, find local stores, and order products for pickup or delivery.