Nest Mate is a mobile furniture shopping app that helps users visualize how items like sofas, lamps, and décor pieces will look in their actual space before purchasing. Using AR technology, users can place 3D models of furniture in their room, making online shopping more interactive and confident.
Problem Statement
Online furniture shopping is convenient, but many users struggle with visualizing size, fit, and color in their own space.
This uncertainty often leads to hesitation, dissatisfaction, or costly returns.
How might we create a mobile experience that helps users confidently choose furniture that fits their home and style?
UX/UI Designer (Group Project)
Duration: 4 weeks
Tools: Figma and Photoshop
Objectives
Understand frustrations when shopping for furniture online.
Identify opportunities to integrate AR seamlessly into the shopping process.
Methods
10 user interviews
Online survey (45 responses)
Competitive analysis (IKEA Place, Wayfair, Houzz)
Key Insights
72% of users said they’ve returned furniture that didn’t “look right” in their space.
64% want to see true-to-scale items before purchase.
55% said apps feel “cluttered” or “hard to navigate.”
User Need: A clean, easy-to-use app that makes online furniture shopping feel as natural as in-store browsing.
Name: Maya Thompson
Age: 27
Occupation: Interior design enthusiast / apartment renter
Goals: Decorate her apartment stylishly without wasting money.
Frustrations: Hard to visualize how furniture fits her space.
I sketched early user flows focusing on:
Simplifying product discovery.
Integrating AR placement seamlessly from product pages.
Enabling quick checkout without disrupting the visualization flow.
User Flow
Home Screen → Browse Furniture Categories
Select Item → “View in My Space” (AR Mode)
Place & Adjust Item in Room → Add to Cart / Wishlist
Checkout or Save for Later
Low-fidelity wireframes focused on:
Clean layout with visual hierarchy.
Large product images and minimal text.
Easy access to AR and Wishlist icons.
UI Design
Style Guide:
Colors: Neutral palette (light green and soft whites)
Typography: Sans-serif, modern and readable
Design Feel: Calm, sophisticated, and home-like
Design Highlights:
Floating “View in Room” AR button on product cards.
3D rotation for each furniture model.
Quick-add wishlist from AR view.
I conducted two rounds of testing with 8 users each.
Findings:
Users loved the AR visualization but wanted faster loading times.
Some users were confused by the “scale” accuracy, so a calibration feature was added.
Streamlined checkout flow improved conversion intent.
The final design lets users:
Shop and visualize furniture in real-time AR.
Save curated room setups.
Receive AI-based furniture suggestions that complement their space.
40% increase in purchase confidence (from testing surveys).
30% reduction in potential return intent.
Positive feedback on simplicity and immersive experience.
AR integration must balance innovation with usability.
Users value speed and clarity over heavy visual effects.
Next steps: explore social sharing features and room layout saving.