The Friday Five: Five Ways to Use Your Smartphone for DIY Projects

Hello! Time for today’s Friday Five: Five ways to use your smartphone for DIY projects! Smartphones come in handy in many ways, of course, but did you know that they’re helpful in DIYing, too? Here are five ways smartphones help with DIY projects.

1. Make a List

There is nothing worse than going to the hardware store, getting stuff, coming home to start the project, then realizing you forgot one thing. Instead, use your phone to make a list of the supplies you need and you’ll be ready to rock ‘n roll when you get home!

You can also make a list of all the paint colors in your home. If you need paint, you can just check the list to remember what color and sheen you need.

Click HERE for how to choose a paint color for the rooms in your home!

2. Photograph What You Need

When we moved into our new home, we changed all the locks. The problem was that each lockset was a different shape and type. To make sure I got all the right sizes and shapes, I took a picture of each one. That way, when I got to the hardware store, I could see which ones I needed.

I also did this with the toilet seats in our home. Aside from changing the locks, the other first thing I do when I move to a new home is change the toilet seats! Since each toilet had a different shape, I took pics of each one so I knew which shapes to buy!

Taking a photo is helpful also when I don’t know exactly what I need. For example, our guest bathroom’s toilet handle was broken, but I didn’t know exactly what I needed to buy to fix it. So, I took a picture of the handle and showed it to the hardware store helper and we got what I needed.

3. Level It Out

You can download an app that’s a level – I have the iHandy app, which has a level function that’s free.

You can pay 99 cents and get a plumb or surface level app or a ruler. The level app is a good way to check level when you have a small area in which a regular level won’t fit.

4. Shine a Little Light

Download a flashlight app and you’ll never be in the dark again!

I’ve used the flashlight when the power has gone out and my phone is the closest thing to me, and also when working in tight spaces, like under a sink.

5. Phone a Friend

There are certain friends that you know you can call when you have a DIY or project question. For example, a certain friend of mine (you know who you are) called me from a certain craft store about which glue to buy when she was making a Halloween costume. I’ve called my favorite contractor on more than one occasion when I’ve gotten stuck on a project.

I’ve also made that “should I buy this?” call from a thrift store, on more than one occasion!

Click on the photo to see how I turned this dingy cart into a swanky bar cart!

BONUS: Download apps from your favorite home decor and craft stores and get coupons and other deals!

How do you use your smartphone when DIYing? Share your favorite idea in the comments below!