When planning a home renovation anything that helps you save time and money is a bonus.

Luckily there is a range of smartphone and tablet apps available to help ease the stress that comes with any DIY project.

From creating virtual decorating platforms, creating colour schemes, locating natural light, or connecting users with tradies, it seems there is an app to fulfil just about any purpose. Here are five renovation apps that you should know about before you next pick up a paintbrush:

1. Houzz (Free- Iphone, Andorid, Ipad)

Want to see what your dream house rooms will look like? This app is perfect for online home remodelling and design, providing people with everything they need to renovate their homes from beginning to end. It allows people to build custom homes by connecting homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals globally. Renovators can get design inspiration, project advice, product information and professional reviews.

2. Dulux MyColour app (Free- Iphone, Ipad)

Having difficulty deciding on a colour scheme to match your furniture? The Dulux MyColour app allows users to see what thousands of different colour combinations look like. Users just need to upload a picture of a room, and then paint it with colours of their choice. Also, Dulux MyColour gives users a matching colour palette for any object.

3. Pick-a-quote App (Free- Iphone, Ipad)

Want to find the cheapest and most capable workers to complete your renovation? This app allows users to connect with tradies. Simply post your renovation work details, location and budget, and wait for businesses to submit their quotes.

4. Sun Seeker: 3D Augmented Reality Viewer ($5.49- Iphone)

Keen on maximising natural sunlight in your home? This app lets users build homes with maximum appeal by locating the natural sunlight. Users are provided with a flat view compass and an augmented reality camera showing the solar path at hourly intervals.

5. Klippbok by Ikea (Free- Ipad)

Would you like to virtually place furniture in a room to see if it will work? This app works as a digital scrapbook. It lets users drag and arrange furniture and decorations to create mood boards. Ikea products can be mixed and matched by flipping, rotating, resizing and layering products. When finished, these virtual rooms can be shared on social media.

By Afrah Fazli