For the 4th day of our Let’s Get Organized series, I thought we could take a look at iPhone apps.

Now, I know many of you may not have an iPhone.  In truth, I don’t have one either, but there is no getting around the fact that the amazing number of apps available for the iPhone have changed the way we use our phones, and could make a big difference in how we stay organized in the interior design business.  That being said, if you don’t have an iPhone, stick around for this first entry, because it’s available for other phones and your computer too!

image via Evernote

The simplest way to describe Evernote is as a note taking service, which doesn’t sound all that amazing.  But when a “note” can be anything from a snapshot you take with your mobile phone, to a screen grab of a website you’re on, to a to-do list you send yourself via email, things get a lot more interesting.  For designers, this is a major boon.  Imagine seeing something, anywhere you are, taking a picture and sending it off to a file system where you can easily access it along with notes, voice memos, web pages, lists, etc.  And everything can be filed to the correct folder automatically, once you tell Evernote what to look for.  Best yet, the basic service is free.  I’ll let their little intro video explain more…

Next up are the two iPhone apps made for color selection, Benjamin Moore’s ben® Color Capture™ (above),…

and Sherwin-Williams’ Color Snap® (above).  Both manufacturers provide these applications for free, and both work pretty much the same way, by capturing an image, allowing you to choose a specific color from that image, and then matching it to that manufacturers paint line.  The main differences between the two are in how they then interpret what you can do to integrate that color into a coordinated scheme, but those differences are fairly minor.  Of course, the application is limited by the fact that a camera is never as good at capturing and interpreting a color as the human eye is, but it sure beats carrying a fan deck with you every time you leave your office.  Free

Next up is a really useful app for interior designers called I.D.Wood.  With images and reference materials on over 50 different commonly used woods, including information on origin, common uses, and milling techniques.  Best of all for green designers, it includes a sustainability feature as well.  Price $2.99

And speaking of green, for those of you preparing to take the LEED Green Associate exam, there are flash cards for your phone. Price $19.99

Trust someone to come up with a “design a room on an iPhone” app, but since Mark On Call is targeted specifically at interior designers, it may be worth a look.  And for the price, you don’t have much to lose!  $2.99

And finally, for those times when you’re stuck in a really long, boring meeting, there is Home Sweet Home, a game where you “Create the room of your clients’ dreams with hundreds of unique pieces of furniture and accessories across dozens of homes each with their own challenging riddle. Then, with deadlines looming, direct your build team to assemble it all in front of your eyes!”  I’m not sure if the client yells at you when things go wrong, but I like that coffee is how you keep your “build team” motivated! Price $2.99

Tomorrow – Let’s Get Organized, Day 5 -  The Paperless Office

Monday – Let’s Get Organized, Day 1 – Sustainable Desks

Tuesday – Let’s Get Organized, Day 2 – The Naked Binder

Wednesday – Let’s Get Organized, Day 3 – Storage Solutions