The cat’s out of the bag. Everywhere you look these days there’s a new AI tool. Some are free to use, but many aren’t. Short of signing up for every shiny new tool you come across, how do you know which AI image tools are actually worth your time?
Our solution to this dilemma was to look for the best-in-class tools for each type of AI image tool out there. We’ve rounded up the most promising AI tools that we think are worth investigating for interior designers. Let’s dive in, shall we?
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1. Canva (Free or $14.99 for Pro)
Best for: Beginners and multi-purpose use
Canva as a platform prides itself in making graphic design more accessible to non-designers, but that doesn’t mean that designers won’t find it useful. In particular, the ease and convenience that Canva offers and the speed with which they add new features really sets them apart from their competitors!
Looking for examples? Canva currently offers a Magic Eraser AI tool which lets you spot erase you don’t want in your image with one click. Great for smoothing out distractions and minor image flaws in your interior design renders.
Need to take it one step further? Swap out that item your client changed their mind about with Magic Edit. Tell AI what you’d like to see in its place and watch the program work its conceptual magic! A lifesaver for mock-ups and before deciding on specific items for your interior design scheme.
Whether you want to correct your interior design photos, add filters, erase clutter or swap your background, Canva’s AI image editing features are super intuitive and a great place to start experimenting with AI image editing.
Magic Design will come in handy when creating design presentations. Use this text-to-image tool and have AI create your first draft. How does it work? AI will use your existing images and your unique inputs to create templates that are unique to your brand. Something not quite right? Changing specific details and customizing from there is a breeze.
Are you looking to create a video walk-through for your final presentation? Canva’s Beat Sync will make sure the audio and the visual match up perfectly. Not bad for a day’s work!
Our take: When you consider that Canva is one of the most cutting edge tools out there at the low price point of completely free for a basic version which includes Magic Eraser and Magic Editor and $14.99 for the full Pro package. Best for designers focused on the total design package, brand kit management and social media.
2. Photo Room (Free or $9.49 for Pro)
Best for: Designers and studios focused on furniture and products
Photo Room sounds like a tool specific to interior design, but it’s actually geared toward product staging. Nonetheless, the degree of accuracy that this suite of tools offers is said to be up to twice as accurate as other options on the market. So what exactly can you do with Photo Room?
This professional online studio boasts several editors, including several that you can use for free as a visitor to the site. With Photo Room, you’re only a few clicks away from presenting your designs in the best possible light. Like Canva, with Photo Room you can remove unwanted items in your images and create new backgrounds with a swipe. The editor is easy to use and very precise. This tool allows you emphasize the true essence of your product’s design by keeping the focus clear on the foreground.
What really makes Photo Room worth looking at, though, is its batch editing feature which allows you to retouch hundreds of images at a time, essentially tripling your output. Photo Room‘s retouch, instant shadows, blur background, change background color or make transparent, image resizing and text-to-photo features are all free to get started with.
Of particular interest to interior designers will be Photo Room’s furniture studio. This tool promises to save designers hours of editing time with state of the art product image staging and instant sets and backdrops for your furniture items with the help of AI.
Our take: This tool appears to be a little cheaper than Canva, but is a more specialized tool and not nearly as broad in application as Canva. Best for designers focused on products and furniture.
3. Styldod (Free or starts at $16 and up)
Best for: Interior designers and stagers focused on client design presentations
This is one of my favorite new AI tools on the list because I can see how powerful it is going to be for its target market: Real estate agents. We’ve talked about how interior designers and property agents can work together before on this blog, and it’s exciting to see the opportunities that continue to emerge on both sides of the business sphere. So what is Styldod?
Styldod is a B2B (business to business) SAAS (software as a service) company. They also have actual service offerings on their platform geared toward realtors and property developers. Styldod essentially offers a suite of AI-enhanced text-based tools and services for real estate marketing, which includes property descriptions, marketing and sales e-mail copy and even social media captions.
As cool as the service offerings are, let’s keep it real: we’re here to talk about the AI image, graphic and video capabilities of Styldod’s platform. One amazing new offering you should check out from the company is their powerful template library for creating real estate flyers and also virtual property walkthrough videos. These are especially fantastic tools if you work on the marketing side of a design studio, no doubt about it. So, where else do interior designers fit into this picture?
Interior designers might also be interested in trying out some of Styldod’s free image editing tools, including fast batch processing for image enhancement with the help of their own API (if you’re technically inclined that way). But the tool I can see interior designers being most excited about is the interior and exterior object remover tool for photos. This baby is finely tuned to delete furniture, mats, shadows and even stains on the wall from interior photos and trees and cars from exterior shots.
In the life of an interior designer we are often faced with constructing an entire model from scratch before beginning our design execution. What Styldod’s AI image editing tool allows us to do is to get a nice clean interior image of the actual room to be designed in the earlier, conceptual phase before committing to 3D modeling. A huge time-saver!
Something else interior designers might be interested in is Styldod’s virtual staging service, which they claim is the most photo-realistic virtual staging out there. Whether you want to take advantage of their lightning-quick rendering services (12-24 hours turnaround time) for early conceptual work or you want to offer virtual staging services through your own design studio (wink wink), these are the types of tools that can truly help you scale your business.
Styldod’s virtual staging service costs $16/image if you order more than eight images, otherwise it is $23/image. They also offer unlimited revisions.
Besides these offerings Styldod also has floor plan, 3D rendering and 360 degree virtual tour capabilities for you to tap into for your design marketing needs.
Our take: Think of virtual staging as a starting point, and interior design as the final solution. Styldod might not be marketed to interior designers specifically, but many of the tools they offer are very useful for designers with higher output services. For designers still looking for a niche, Styldod’s services offer inspiration for branching out into the real estate market.
4. Home Designs AI ($29 and up)
Best for: Home DIY enthusiasts and hobbyists
While Styldod markets their products to real estate professionals specifically, Home Designs AI is looking to tempt the home construction, DIY and home renovation market with instant design revisions to photos of your existing home.
This AI based image service does super quick makeovers of interiors, exteriors and gardens in a matter of seconds. Simply upload your photo and specify the type of aesthetic you prefer and hey presto, AI dreams up a new look for your space. The platform boasts forty different design styles and it’s more than a little addicting to play with!
Any interior designer worth their salt can see that these rooms are not actually ‘redesigned’ in the sense that interior designers are taught to design, with attention to actual measurements and space planning. Instead, rooms are mostly reimagined, with their furniture, fitting and fixture layouts left in place.
How does this work? The AI appears to paint over the existing elements of the room with new, photo-realistically rendered objects. This works great for seeing what your room might look like in a different style, but it doesn’t do anything about poor design in the first place.
As a designer who believes that human-centered design and functionality in living spaces is equally as important as the appearance of the space, in my opinion there are a few too many random AI details like mis-hung pictures and excessive and unnecessary detail in the results for me to ignore. However, do keep in mind that all of the AI tools we are using today are about the worst that they are ever going to be and they will undoubtedly continue to improve!
Here’s how I would use this AI-image enhancement tool: As a designer I would start with a photo which had as much excessive detailing removed to begin with as possible, or already had the basic layout that I wanted to keep in my design. Then I would play with the random AI options. I should add that you can specify how creative you want the program to be, and if you choose “creative redesign” and “higher intervention” you can completely redo your existing layout, and even edit out specific items.
Have you tried this tool? Let us know how you liked it!
Our take: This is a fun AI image tool to be sure. This is also a highly popular tool! Interior designers would find this type of tool best for the early conceptual stages of their work. If you’re interested in checking it out we have a shiny new affiliate link for this one which allows us to gain a small commission at no cost at all to you. You can grab it here.
5. Midjourney AI ($29 and up)
Best for: Interior designers and publishers with a focus on quality conceptual images
This is my absolute top favorite AI image tool, and one that I use on an almost daily basis. So what do I love about it? Quite simply I am a huge fan of the generative AI image tool because of the endless possibilities it presents for creative people. If you too want to generate endless architectural and interior design images in any style you could possibly dream up, this AI image tool might just be the one for you!
Midjourney AI is considered by many in the industry to be one of the “gold standard” AI image generators out there, and the myriad aspects of image generation that you can tweak with the program are truly mind-boggling.
So, why hasn’t everyone heard of it?
One of the reasons you don’t tend to hear much about Midjourney in the mainstream media is because it has a slightly more challenging learning curve. For one thing, Midjourney is not accessible within the browser. You have to access the Midjourney ‘bot’ through the Discord platform, which, if you’re not deep into tech, might be new to you.
Luckily, if you’re determined to learn how there a lot of really high quality YouTube channels out there that teach you how to get it set up and how to start using it for the best results. We’ll be covering more on the topic ourselves in upcoming blog posts, but for now, you can check out the following resources if you’re interested.
Olivio Sarikas’ YouTube Channel
Making the Photo YouTube Channel
So it it worth it, and what exactly can you do with Midjourney AI for interior design?
Well, one of the best things about Midjourney is that it understands professional terms across industries like photography, film, architecture and design. Thus, the more you know about your discipline, the better your results will be. Sure, anyone can prompt Midjourney with “modern style log cabin” and call it a day, but the more professional your prompt, the more precise and the less generic your resulting image will be.
Think descriptive prompts which include specific architectural, material or product queries. If you understand photography then angles, lighting and post-processing or other stylistic cues return incredible results.
While it should be noted that Midjourney is not a design-specific tool, there has been a lot of coverage of how it can be used by interior designers and architects. Across YouTube and the web there are numerous “Midjourney stars” who provide the rest of us guidance, motivation and inspiration for how to use this incredible tool in our design work. I have personally been using Midjourney since it was first released and I have no intention of quitting anytime soon.
Here are some of the interior design related items I’ve used Midjourney to create:
–Photorealistic architectural concepts (both fantasy and standard)
-Photorealistic interior concepts (fantasy and realistic)
–Mood boards
–Floor plans
–Isometric designs
-Vignettes
–Furniture
–Decor
It should be said that the design graphics that Midjourney produces will not be final design drawings or plans. Instead, they are conceptual and iterative in nature, but they are an incredible tool to have in the design process and the starting point for many interesting designs. Also, it is possible to get Midjourney to paint over existing images or line drawings, or to create designs based on your own work.
As with the broader AI world, Midjourney AI continues to improve at a dizzying speed, with new versions released every few months. The product is continually being improved, and as new versions and capabilities are added, they are layered on top of the previous versions, meaning you can always use the version that you feel gives you the best results.
Our take: This is the least beginner friendly tool on our list, but it is well worth it for designers who need to create a lot of iterations or conceptual works. If you’re looking for ways to generate more images to share on your social media or you want to get into the nitty gritty of AI image generation this tool could be incredibly rewarding.
Maximize Your Design Potential with AI Image Tools
We’ve covered the top 5 AI image generative and editing tools for interior designers. You might be wondering if its really necessary to start using AI tools for your design work. We believe that it is. In fact, it is incredibly important to leverage these tools now.
Let’s touch on the benefits of AI image tools and dig a little deeper into how you can truly maximize your design potential by using them.
First of all, AI image tools can significantly shorten the time it takes to create and manipulate design elements. This is a game-changer, especially for fast-paced businesses and the deadline-driven tasks that come with the job of being a professional designer. With the speed of execution that these tools deliver, you will find yourself capable of conducting more design projects in less time.
- Boosting efficiency: AI image tools can automatically resize images, retouch photos, and apply filters quicker than any human could. This not only streamlines your workflow but also can drastically reduce the labor-hours spent on mundane tasks.
- Enabling creativity: Being time-efficient means you also have more freedom to explore your creative side. With more time up your sleeve, you can experiment with different design styles or elements to create bespoke interiors.
- Driving Precision: AI image tools boast impressive accuracy in delivering image modifications. When you need pixel-perfect designs, these tools can be your ally.
Editors Choice: Looking to get started with just one AI image tool? We recommend Canva.
Why? We have personally been using the graphic design application for several years. It is the one of the cheapest on the list, the most multi-functional and supports the broadest use case. Bonus points to the company for their generous free tier and the fact that on one professional plan you can support a team of up to four for FREE.
(Please note that at this time we are not affiliated with Canva.)
Embrace Novelty, Leap into the Future
What about the long term benefits of adopting AI now? It turns out that getting started with AI image tools now doesn’t just offer immediate results. These tools can also provide an essential stepping stone into the world of advanced digital design. By familiarizing yourself with the interface and functions of these tools, you’re setting the groundwork for leveraging even more useful tech tools in the future.
As AI continues its rapid advancement, we can expect a host of new products and new features for existing products in the coming years. Imagine having the ability to create a 3D render of an interior design directly from a 2D image, or using AI to run a feasibility check for your design plan. These once-futuristic ideas are rapidly becoming realities and our guess is that you will want to be able to leverage them to scale your business.
AI has the potential to revolutionize the design industry, but only if the industry is ready to evolve with it. So, are you ready to kick your interior design skills up a notch? Embrace the opportunity that AI image tools present – your portfolio and your clients will thank you.
Stay Ahead of the Curve with AI Image Tools for Interior Design
Let’s face it, as an interior designer in the digital age, staying up-to-date with the latest technology isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity. Like it or not, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making waves in the design industry. The truth is, that despite the uncertainty about where we’re heading with AI, this new technology offers tools that can completely revolutionize your creative process. In fact, we believe that these AI image tools could be your not-so-secret weapon for staying ahead of the curve in interior design.
AI image tools are not only streamlining the design process but also offering improved accuracy and efficiency as they are further refined.”
Instead of spending hours scouring the internet for ideas and inspirations, AI can take your ideas and run with them. Not only can it find inspiration based on your specified criteria, but it can also simulate how different design elements will look in a particular space, saving you an incredible amount of time and physical effort.
Some have described AI tools like having a tireless assistant who’s always ready to do the heavy lifting or the meticulous detail work that can eat up so much of your productive time.
As AI continues to advance, it’s becoming integral to creating designs that truly resonate with current trends and client preferences. Embracing AI really does put you on the cutting edge, making you better able to offer your clients an unparalleled level of service, accuracy, and innovativeness in your designs.
Revolutionize Your Design Approach
So as you can see, AI is more than just a tool, it’s a partner that can push your design capabilities beyond your limits. Imagine incorporating design elements that you might not have thought of, or seamlessly integrating a variety of patterns and textures that you might have considered incompatible. AI can make these things possible, and so much more.
The future of interior design is here, and it’s getting a huge helping hand with AI!
Further reading:
6 Things You Need to Know About AI for Your Interior Design Business Now
How My Business tasks Take 40% Less Time Using an AI Assistant
Thank you for joining us to discuss the top five mind-blowing AI image tools for interior designers. If you’d like to stay up to date on the technology and tools design professionals needs and get lots of style and design tips straight to your in-box please sign up below.
See you in the next one,
—Von Sassy
