I’m starting to field more and more questions about AI and how it will change and/or maybe even replace interior design professionals, like myself. So, let’s talk about the elephant in the (beautifully-decorated) room — Artificial Intelligence (aka AI) and how it’s shaking up interior design.
We’re all creatures of habit. What we know and are used to makes us comfortable while change can scare the bejesus out of us! So it’s no wonder why everyone’s wondering if AI is coming to steal our jobs? Or worse, in the case of interior designers, is it going to start picking paint colors? The short answer? No!!! AI isn’t about to replace interior designers. But, it is about to seriously change how we work. And honestly, that’s not such a bad thing.
For me, I’m trying desperately to think of AI less like a rival and more like that intern I’ve always wished for. But this intern never sleeps, never complains and never asks for a paycheck or benefits! LOL!!! Yet somehow, this unpaid intern scours the internet for things, churns out 3D renderings or even drafts contracts and communications before I’ve even had my first sip of coffee in the morning. AI takes care of some of the grunt work like drafting, and color-matching while I’m busy doing what I do best: connecting, creating, and “fixin’ ugly“!
AI can help us (me and my clients) visualize spaces in minutes which used to take hours. It can analyze trends, generate mood boards, and even forecast what’s about to be “in” before even the influencers catch on. And thanks to tools like AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality), clients can now walk through their future living rooms before a single stroke of the paint brush or a single nail is hammered. As a designer that means fewer awkward “that’s not what I pictured” conversations and clearer expectations for both parties.
But here’s the thing… for all its computing power, AI still doesn’t get people! It doesn’t know why you, my client, might insist on keeping that quirky armchair from your first apartment or why a certain shade of blue makes you feel calm. It can’t sense emotion, read a room, or have that gut instinct that tells me when a space just feels right. It can offer alternatives but it can’t personalize every nuance of those alternatives which only a designer and client can truly understand.
Interior design, at its heart, is still deeply human. It’s empathy. It’s storytelling. It’s problem-solving under pressure when the sofa shipment gets delayed or the contractor ghosts you. AI can’t do or handle real world hiccups, not even close! (And chances are, it can’t do that in your profession either…. just sayin’!)
Let me show an example. Earlier this year I worked with a client to re-envision and decorate their dining room. We wanted to created a lighter, brighter space that reflected the young family’s current style, their farmhouse roots and incorporate some sentimental touches. (You might remember these Before & Afters from an earlier post.)
Actual Client Dining Room Before
Our canvas!
AI Rendering #1
Asking AI to examine the Before pic and decorate with these expectations (modern farmhouse, off-white walls, light wood furniture, white drapery panels) gave this result (above). Notice the weird window treatment placement and random white board easel…seriously?) So I after a few more parameters including a specific wall color (Sherwin Williams Kestril White), this was the result:
AI Rendering #2
While an improvement over the original, it still feels generic, what I lovingly refer to as “bed-in-a-bag”! (And AI randomly changed the windows from black to white… how could that possibly affect the look? IKR) But, on the surface, this is a great inspiration photo for some eager DIYer who just needs a nudge!
Actual Client Dining Room After
And above is the actual finished product for our clients. Using personal touches and things I could actually source locally, the end result isn’t fundamentally dissimilar to the ones created by AI. Yet, it clearly represents the difference between generic, computer-generated ideas versus the “real” touch of a human being, not to mention repurposed items.
I believe the future of interior decorating and design isn’t a battle between humans and machines; it’s going to be a partnership. AI will handle the more mundane, heaving lifting like office management, draft renderings and automation. We design professionals (like any artist) will bring our own unique intuition, taste, and human touch to the project which is what make spaces truly come alive. The designers who embrace this technology won’t just survive the AI revolution, they’ll thrive in it!!!
So no, the robots aren’t taking over! They’re just helping us spend less time picking grout colors and more time creating homes that actually feel like home. And how can’t they be a win for everyone? (Oh, and by the way, AI provided the rough draft this very post.) 😉
If you’re looking for additional help pulling together your AI-inspired space, give me a call. I’ll help you add the human touch it’s probably missing.
Happy AI Decorating from Decor Designs. 815-245-2433
