Recently, there have been a lot of discussions about whether AI will replace different professions. And of course, interior designers are in the shortlist. As an interior designer, I can't ignore this topic, and I would like to take a closer look at what AI can actually do today. I use AI every day and have firsthand experience with its capabilities. So, I will explain this using my workflow as an example.

1. I always create the furniture layout myself
The biggest problem for AI today is furniture layout.
Large language models understand language but do not understand space and dimensions. They know ergonomic rules in theory, but they cannot apply them to a real space. There is specialized BIM software, but it is mainly made for designing buildings, not for arranging furniture inside an apartment based on a client's brief.
I even tried to create our own software with IT specialist. It worked sometimes, but very weak. That is not something I can trust in a real project.
So, I have to use my knowledge and a traditional software for this task

2. Then I build a white 3D model
AI also is not good with turning a floor plan into a correct 3D space. There is often a wow effect in videos about AI, but in real projects it still makes many mistakes. It distorts space, loses door, windows, parts of walls. For any room that is more complicated than a simple rectangle with one window, this tool is still not reliable.
Why do I need 3D model?

• I can build the model using exact dimensions and see the real scale and proportions.
• It helps me see the proportions not only on a plan but also in three dimensions.
• It creates the wireframe for the next AI texturing.

I don't create flat collages, and do not convert a flat collage into 3D space.Because while using collages you get a result which is not connected to real dimensions. I have seen scale mistakes in other designers' work because the furniture size was chosen incorrectly.
But if I have my real scale 3D model, I can texture it with AI.

3. AI for materials and visualization
Once the layout is approved and my white 3D model is ready, I use AI together with the reference images we discussed with the client.
AI helps me apply materials, colors, and textures to the model.
Because the geometry is already correct, some AI models, for example Gemini, do this very well without changing the proportions or the scale. At this stage, the visualization is ready.
For projects with renovation, I use traditional 3d viz, as renovation and construction shop drawings demand precise dimensions, every centimeter matters. But for furnishing projects it's a game changer.

4. Trying different options
After that, I use AI to quickly try different options.
I can change chairs, materials, textures, and many other details in just a few minutes.
It is a very fast way to compare different ideas and see how they look in the same interior.

5. Sketches for contractors
I also use AI to prepare simple sketches for contractors.
These are not technical shop drawings. I still add all dimensions manually, and I would not trust AI to prepare construction drawings.
But it can extract an object from a visualization and create a simple axonometric sketch. This helps the manufacturer understand exactly what I mean and prepare the esteem price.
I didn't mention some tools that help me in sourcing, preparing summary spreadsheets, monitoring my E-mail and so on. I think a lot of people use such tools as ChatGPT, Google Lens, Claude.

Summary
AI is developing incredibly fast. Just a year ago, I saw it mainly as a tool for creating inspiration, mood boards, and creative concepts only. But as AI has progressed so much, my vision changed. Today, it has become part of my everyday workflow. It helps me work faster, test more ideas, and automate routine tasks. I believe this is only the beginning. AI will continue to simplify many parts of our work and make good design more accessible.