The fusion of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and interior design has given rise to many innovative tools and applications that empower homeowners, designers, and enthusiasts alike. I aim to guide you to the best AI interior design apps that suit your requirements and budget for your design projects.
AI tools streamline the design process, offering inspiration, guidance, and practical solutions for professionals and amateurs. I created the image above using the Midjourney App.
AI Interior Design Tools In This Review
Planner 5D
Midjourney
DreamStudio
Room GPT
HomeStyler
What Are AI Interior Design Tools?
I asked this exact question while researching for this article and trying out the tools below.
My initial understanding of AI is that a computer uses the information a user inputs to develop creative possibilities based on what the tool finds on the web.
Only a few AI-powered tools on a computer do this, although plenty of APPS are available for phones, iPads, and tablets.
These tools only require a photo and or a detailed description to generate innovative ideas.
I then looked at easy-to-use interior design software such as Planner 5D, which uses AI-based technology as part of their design tool. Machine learning algorithms make software intuitive and provide quick design solutions to a room layout.
The lack of AI is particularly evident in expensive drawing tools such as Revit or ArchiCad, used by Architectural designers who take many hours to create a unique design. A BIM design will require far more input, but the results will be to scale and easier to visualize an existing space.
However, the tools we are looking at today use AI to create room ideas and impressive renderings.
1 – Planner 5D
What Does It Do and Who Would It Suit?
I use expensive Architectural drawing software to design new houses. However, when I found Planner 5D, I loved it, and now I use this easy-to-use interior design tool, which has AI-powered features.
I can’t use it for my architectural work, but it’s perfect to show a creative vision of your interior design ideas.
Planner 5D is a suitable design tool for all abilities, from enthusiasts to professional interior designers. It is in the No. 1 position above Midjourney purely because this software allows anyone to recreate the home to scale. Hence, it is more realistic to the proportions of a specific home.
IA Interior Design Produced Using Planner 5D
Using a Personal subscription, I selected a Wizard Project to simplify the process. Selecting the floor plan, room shape, and Coastal style.
In the user-friendly Wizard Project, a room planner predetermined furniture placement, which can be replaced. This tool is also perfect when learning how to design the interiors of your home.
There were no glitches; it was just a matter of getting familiar with mouse control.
After a short evening of learning my way around the AI interior design software, I had a couple of goes with the rendering and was pleased with the results.
Planner 5D provides photorealistic renders for an additional fee, which would be ideal for the professional designer.
Pros
- East To Use
- Free Version
- Support, Community, 5000+ Catalog
- One Room or a Whole House Design
Cons
- There is not quite enough versatility for all professional interior designers.
- The free version is limited
- Trials of pay-as-you-go features would be helpful
Cost
- Free version
- Individual $5 per month paid annually – 60 Renders and 60 Textures
- Pro Version, $10 per month, paid annually – Double Renders & Textures to Individual subscription
- These subscriptions can be paid monthly so you can cancel anytime; however, this would be more expensive.
In addition to interior designers, Midjourney is popular with marketing agencies and an invaluable concept tool for all designers.
2 – Midjourney
What Does It Do, And Who Would It Suit
Midjourney harnesses augmented reality and the power of artificial intelligence to produce creative, high-quality design concepts.
Their AI-driven solutions allow users to visualize and conceptualize interior spaces.
The image produced is achieved by only describing a style and room type, not the actual space or specific sizes. Tutorial
This AI interior design tool with a user-friendly interface is most suited to professional interior designers and enthusiasts in the early stages of a project.
IA Interior Design Produced Using Midjourney
I used the following description to create this 3D interior design render. ‘A living room in a coastal property, with folding doors onto a deck and ocean views. The interior should be plush but not too formal, and the colors should be white and pale blue with a coastal style.’
Pros
- Exceptional interior room design renderings
- Changes to the selection of renders
- The possibility of specifications is wide, such as 4k quality, angle of view, style and size of rendering, and style of interiors.
Cons
- Not exact to room layouts
- Items cannot be removed or added to the rendering
- No free trials. Subscription service only
Cost
Subscription monthly fees only
- Basic Plan 3.3 hours of rendering $10
- Standard Plan 15 hours of rendering $30 – Relax rendering time unlimited
- Pro Plan 30 hours of rendering $60 – Relax rendering time unlimited
- Mega Plan 60 hours of fast rendering $120 – Relax rendering time unlimited
3 – DreamStudio
What Does It Do, And Who Would It Suit
This tool is similar to the Midjourney interior design software tools using augmented reality and produces interior design concepts. AI images are created from descriptions you provide and photos if desired.
IA Interior Design Produced Using DreamStudio
‘Produce a rendering of a room with a plinth wall with glazing above, glass double doors at the end of the room, the roof is pitched with a vaulted ceiling, the walls and ceiling are white painted, and there is a central pendant.’
There are some irregularities in the rendering I produced, as shown below, although the mistakes are minor.
It is an excellent user-friendly tool for interior design projects, and the design process is straightforward to get the renderings above. I did undertake any additional edits to these renderings.
Pros
- Good quality renderings but not quite photographic
- Lots of editing options and settings
- Free trial with credits and easy-to-join
Cons
- The exact dimensions of room layouts are not possible
- Step learning curve to make the most of all features
- There is a cost, but it is reasonable and controllable by the amount of features you use.
Cost
- $10 per 1000 credits
4 – Room GPT
What Does It Do, And Who Would It Suit
Room GPT is an upload and adapt user-friendly tool. It uses the image you provide to create a new interior design style for an existing room.
Room GPT is ample for homeowners and design enthusiasts, and it may also suit firms that use some design tools, such as realtors.
IA Interior Design Produced Using Room GPT
The first image is of an existing dining room, which was uploaded into Room GPT, I requested a Modern Dining Room, and the second is what was created by Room GPT.
This was created with only one credit. Two credits were used on previous attempts. The render could have been more impressive.
Although I only used the free version, I could have edited the 3D rendering, which would have improved the image.
You can see this when comparing the images Room GPTs website examples further up.
Pros
- Quick and easy to use
- Based on actual room proportions
- Free support for paid subscription users
Cons
- Google account required
- Not a very impressive rendering
- Lots of options that require further credits
Cost
- Three credits Free to start
- $9 for 30 credits
- $29 for 200 credits
The credits required for a completed render will depend on the editing options used.
5 – HomeStyler
What Does It Do, And Who Would It Suit
HomeStyler is an excellent tool to speed up the interior design process. It uses design tools and AI technology to make design styles come to life quickly. You can do a whole house or a couple of rooms.
Unlike Midjourney or Room GPT, this tool is much more hands-on but straightforward than products like Sketchup.
Take time to watch the tutorial videos and practice changing elements of the room, which will help you get used to the mouse and keyboard functions.
It’s worth the effort if you want something specific or more than one room. Perfect for homeowners and smaller firms in the interior design industry.
Pros
- Great visualizations, large catalog of objections
- Community, Support, and Tutorials
- Import existing AutoCAD files
Cons
- Learning Curve
- It can be a little glitchy
Cost
- Free Trial
- Individual Pro $4.90 per month or Master $9.90 per month
Can AI Replace Human Interior Designers?
While AI has made significant strides in revolutionizing the field of interior design, it is unlikely to replace human interior designers fully.
AI excels at tasks such as generating design suggestions, analyzing data, and providing automated solutions, which can aid and streamline the design process.
However, the essence of interior design extends beyond the purely functional aspects.
Therefore, human designers bring a deep understanding of emotion, culture, and personal preferences to their work.
Moreover, they infuse spaces with creativity, intuition, and a unique, personalized touch that reflects the client’s personality and desires.
Human designers can build relationships, empathize with clients, and adapt to unexpected challenges, qualities an AI interior design tool cannot replicate.
Does Virtual Reality Use AI?
AI is pivotal in virtual reality (VR), particularly in creating immersive and interactive experiences within virtual house environments. AI algorithms are instrumental in generating realistic avatars, simulating natural human interactions, and enhancing the sense of presence in VR.
These applications can adapt to user behavior, making virtual houses feel dynamic and responsive. AI is also used for space planning and object recognition, ensuring the virtual environment accurately reflects real-world spaces.
The Advantages Of Using AI Room Planner Tools
Design Creativity & Predictive Analysis
AI is a powerful assistant, streamlining various aspects of the creative process. AI tools can quickly generate design ideas, sift through vast databases of inspirations, and provide fresh ideas to kickstart the creative journey.
Moreover, AI’s ability to automate routine and time-consuming tasks, such as organizing and cataloging design elements, frees up valuable time for designers to focus on the more imaginative and artistic aspects of their work.
Furthermore, AI can suggest alternative design possibilities, encouraging designers to explore unconventional ideas they might not have considered otherwise.
AI plays a pivotal role in predictive analysis by harnessing the power of data and advanced algorithms to make informed forecasts and strategic decisions.
In various industries, from finance to healthcare and marketing, AI’s predictive capabilities have revolutionized how organizations operate.
Through data mining, machine learning, and statistical modeling, AI can detect hidden patterns and correlations within massive datasets, enabling businesses to anticipate future trends, customer behaviors, and market fluctuations.
Photographic Rendering
AI’s impact on photographic rendering is nothing short of transformative. With the help of deep learning algorithms, AI can enhance, reconstruct, and even generate entirely new images, significantly improving the quality of photographic renderings.
It can also simulate various artistic styles, transform photographs into digital art pieces, and adapt images to suit specific moods or aesthetics.
Additionally, AI can assist in automating the enhancement of colors, textures, and lighting, resulting in more captivating and professional-looking photographs.
The Disadvantages of Using AI To Generate Interior Design Ideas
Despite the numerous advantages, AI in interior design has some inherent disadvantages. One notable drawback is the potential loss of the human touch.
AI can need a more intuitive, emotional, and culturally nuanced understanding that human designers bring to their work, sometimes resulting in design ideas that may feel impersonal or devoid of a unique character.
Additionally, the overreliance on AI tools might lead to a homogenization of creation, as many users turn to the same algorithms and databases for inspiration, potentially resulting in a lack of diversity and creativity in interior aesthetics.
Therefore, while AI has undeniable advantages in interior design, it’s essential to balance technological assistance and human designers’ irreplaceable expertise and creativity.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence has ushered in a new era of innovation and efficiency across various disciplines, from interior design and predictive analysis to photographic rendering. AI’s contributions are undeniably transformative, amplifying creativity, informing strategic decision-making, and elevating visual storytelling for the interior designer and client.
In interior design, AI tools offer convenience, personalization, and improved efficiency, becoming indispensable aids in the design process. However, it’s essential to remember that AI cannot replace the unique human touch of an interior designer and the emotional depth that designers bring to their craft.
The key lies in choosing an AI interior design tool that works best for your needs and abilities, recognizing that AI is a powerful ally in our creative journey, but one that complements, rather than replaces, our innate ingenuity and emotion.
