Why AI will never replace Interior Designers

Let's talk about AI. AI has taken the world by storm in so many areas of our life, including our homes with AI mood boards, AI floorplans, AI shopping lists, even AI “designers". While these tools can be helpful to visualize what your home could look like, there’s a growing misconception that AI might eventually replace interior designers altogether. But here’s the truth: AI can assist, but it cannot replace the human touch, creativity, knowledge and expertise that Interior Designers bring to a space. AI can generate a beautiful picture, but it has no understanding of how a space is used or how people move through it, structural limitations, correct & safe material applications, lighting conditions, building code & city bylaws, or plumbing & electrical requirements.

What AI does not know

• building code & city bylaws
• how to draft a construction package
• electrical locations for specific lighting fixture types. ie. where a pendant needs to be placed exactly over a dining table chosen by the designer, or a sconce location over a vanity
• plumbing locations
• lighting conditions
• match finishes such as a gold plumbing fixture to a gold lighting fixture or cabinet hardware from a different supplier (matching gold finishes is an art in itself!)
• changes during construction & revisions that are required. ie a structural beam might require electrical locations be moved, thus changing the size of a dining room table that will no longer fit into the new space
• how your family lives - children in the home, mobility issues, aging in place, long term or short term home, pets, shoes on or off household which determine things like flooring types, if you have hobbies, allergies, how you entertain, cook or relax
• how to select finishes, fixtures or furniture that are available in your area
• how to source & negotiate pricing, no trade pricing is available to AI

The list goes on and on. One of the most important parts of an Interior Designer’s role is working with contractors, trades, and vendors. We ensure contractors execute the vision correctly, solve on-site challenges in real time, & keep projects on schedule and budget. AI cannot go on site, coordinate teams, or make judgment calls when things inevitably go off plan, and let's be honest they almost always do, it is the nature of construction.

Let me be clear, I am not completely anti AI. It can absolutely be a helpful tool. It can help with a simple decorating or furnishing project to get you excited, but then you are still left to your own devices to source these items, ensure the furniture layout & flow is correct for your space, find the best pricing, coordinate the deliveries, check for damages, unpack & place the items and decorate. Also it is important to note that this is the role of an Interior Decorator, although Designers also decorate, but decorators do not design. AI can show you a nice idea, but Interior Designers create real solutions, on the fly changes and well thought out designs curated to you and your family.

I will admit that I am protective of the design community. We have worked hard with our training, degrees and industry knowledge to provide not only a service, but a personalized experience for our clients. Interior Design offers a luxury experience by combining expert guidance, curated selections, and flawless execution to create a home that is uniquely yours

Want to know more about how an Interior Designer can help? We would love to chat !