There’s a lot of chatter right now about artificial intelligence replacing designers. It’s a fair question. Technology is moving fast, and AI tools are showing up
everywhere—from writing emails to generating images of dream homes. But as of today (and for the foreseeable future), AI isn’t replacing designers.
What is happening? Designers are learning how to use AI as a tool, much like we did with CAD software, 3D rendering, and digital mood boards. And when used thoughtfully, it actually helps us serve our clients better and faster.
Here’s how we see it.
For the DIYer or Entry-Level Decorating Project
AI is actually a fantastic tool. Not everyone can or needs to hire an interior designer – and that’s okay.
For homeowners working on smaller projects or decorating on a tight budget, AI can be incredibly helpful for visualizing ideas.
You can:
- Upload a photo of your room and test different styles
- Experiment with paint colors and cabinet finishes
- Create color palettes or schemes
- Visualize a kitchen with blue cabinets and quartz countertops
- Generate inspiration when you feel stuck
Think of it as a digital inspiration board that responds to your prompts. It’s a fun and accessible way to explore possibilities. But when the project gets bigger… that’s where things change.
For a Serious Renovation or Custom Build
AI can only take you so far.
Missi Youngblood, our founder and principal designer notes, “In an average renovation or new construction project, there are 1,500-3,000 individual decisions that need to be made. AI can not do that for you.”
If one falls out of place, it affects everything that follows. A few examples of what those decisions look like:
- Floor plan review and revisions
- Cabinet layouts and appliance clearances
- Countertop thickness and overhangs
- Tile sizes and grout joints
- Lighting placement and switch locations
- Plumbing fixture placement
- Ceiling details and trim profiles
- Hardware finishes
- Paint colors and undertones
- Fabric selections
- Furniture scale and circulation flow
- And every single other material and touch point …
AI might help you generate an image, but it can’t manage the chain reaction of real-world decisions required to make a home actually beautiful.
That’s where working with a designer becomes critical.
Where Designers Are Using AI
While AI isn’t replacing designers, it is becoming a helpful tool behind the scenes. Just like any good tool, it’s most powerful when guided by experience. Here are a few ways we use it in our design process:
Visualizing Ideas Faster
AI allows us to quickly test visual concepts before we move deeper into the design
process.
For example:
- Turning a napkin sketch into a conceptual rendering
- Comparing two different color schemes on an exterior elevation
- Applying custom fabric to a sofa
- Testing color directions
It helps us move from idea → visual faster, which can be helpful in early brainstorming.
Communicating Ideas More Clearly
Jessica Singer, Lead Designer said, “Not everyone is visual and can see a board of materials and understand it. But, creating ‘exact’, realistic photo renderings is also time-consuming and costly.”
Sometimes a quick visual helps a client understand a concept better than words or individual pictures can. It’s also great for seeing two options. For example, a neutral kitchen with a blue backsplash vs. a neutral kitchen with a neutral backsplash. But these are still conceptual stepping stones, not final design plans.
Saving Time on Certain Tasks
AI can also help with some administrative and workflow tasks that help us run the business more efficiently, such as:
- Drafting outlines
- Polishing communication (especially emotional communication)
- Automating schedules
- Organizing ideas
The result? Our team can spend more time focusing on what matters most:
- Thoughtful, creative design
- Problem solving
- Collaboration with clients and builders
What AI Can’t Replace
Even the best technology still can’t replicate the core parts of what designers do. Things like:
- Understanding how a family actually lives in their home
- Anticipating construction challenges before they happen
- Coordinating hundreds of selections so they work together
- Managing timelines, contractors, and vendors
- Balancing aesthetics with budget and durability
- Designing homes that feel cohesive, timeless, and personal
Great design isn’t just about making something look beautiful. It’s about making thousands of decisions work together seamlessly. That still requires experience, intuition, and collaboration.
The Bottom Line
AI isn’t replacing designers. But it is becoming another tool in the toolbox—one that helps designers explore ideas faster, communicate more clearly, and work more efficiently. The real magic still happens when technology, expertise, and human creativity and collaboration come together. When that happens, the result isn’t just a pretty picture. It’s a home that truly works for the people who live there.
Inside and out, your dream is our expertise. Let’s get started on yours > Submit a Project Inquiry.