Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence replacing life as we know it. And here's how it fits into your decorating plan.
From the rise of smart home appliances to depictions of futuristic furniture in movies like Clueless, technology and home decor can go together like comforters and duvet covers. But over the past few months, technology's impact on shelter spaces has expanded far beyond physical items like programmable curtains and app-enabled light bulbs. With the help of AI, it is now possible to create spaces that don't even exist. Architectural designers like Maria Dudokina and Carlos Bannon are using platforms like DALL-E and Mindjourney to push the boundaries of what's possible within four walls. (A bed frame covered in caviar? Sounds delicious. An apartment with an evacuation slide? Why not?)
AI-designed spaces can help you decorate your dreams and get at least a few likes on Instagram. But how will it impact the design industry? After all, while these fantastical spaces can be dreamed up in the blink of an eye, these visuals are often subject to the realities of tight budgets and structural constraints. It is not based on So what does that give? Can AI really change the interior design industry as we know it?
Sunset editors created these kitchen designs at Midjourney based on the prompt: “Photorealistic kitchens that combine midcentury modern, Tudor, and Craftsman design elements.”
Sunset via Midjourney
Not so fast, says Julie Masco Kleiner, president and co-owner of Masco Warner Interior Design in Los Angeles and Seattle. She “produces images that are flat and almost strangely too perfect. I honestly don't see myself starting to use it in the near future,” she shares. “Designing a home is very personal, and the time, care, attention to detail, and tailoring a space for you can never be replicated by a bot.”
Admittedly, Masco Kleiner doesn't use AI in his design projects. But that doesn't mean she doesn't talk about this trend with her clients. “Just this month, we were having a conversation with a client about how unoriginal many of the AI images flooding social media feeds are,” she says. Masu. “If an AI were to design a kitchen for you and your friend, and you have common interests, hobbies, and online browsing, the designs it spits out might be very similar.” The result, she says, is “a Stepford vs. wife situation when it comes to home design.”
While Masco Kleiner may think AI could hinder the creative process, Los Angeles-based designer Linda Hayslett believes that 3D rendering is already undermining unrealistic expectations. Imagine what you can do with this new technology.
“Even if the chair looks great at first, the lighting may not match the realistic rendering in real life, so the chair doesn't look great in real life and needs to be placed somewhere else,” Hayslett says. says. “Clients can get stuck in the rendering, which can stifle the creativity of change.”
Without a doubt, exploring imaginative spaces while scrolling through social media during the day is incredibly fun. However, it is very unlikely that you will find, for example, an inflatable bed that is also useful as a staircase, or the resources to make it yourself from scratch. Even if the wildest AI dreams become reality, wouldn't it be necessary to hire an interior designer, or at least a contractor, to make it a reality?
Hayslett said the use of AI could be a “slippery slope.” However, it doesn't necessarily have to be banished from the design world. “I think AI is a useful tool as long as the design community understands it,” she explains. “We need guidelines for using and crediting AI, rather than saying nothing and making people believe the project is done.”
In fact, Masco Kleiner has even heard of designers using it for industry-adjacent tasks, such as streamlining permit approvals. However, if you're looking for a creative way to unleash the power of design, it's best to do it yourself or hire a professional. “You'll be much better served by hiring a professional designer in some capacity,” she says. “Even if it's not practical to hire a designer for the entire scope of your project, find someone you can talk to on an hourly basis.”