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June 2025 Blog

Can AI Really Save Interior Designers Hours of Work and Still Wow Clients with Authentic Designs?

Based on Podcast Episode 39
A conversation between Jenna Gaidusek, Founder of AI for Interior Designers, and Julia Reinert, Founder of The Lifestyle Historian

Interior design has always been a blend of creativity, vision, and logistics but in recent years, the “logistics” part has started to take over. Hours spent on renderings. Endless rounds of revisions. Floor plans that take longer to finalize than the actual furniture delivery.

It’s no wonder so many designers are feeling burned out.

But what if the future of design isn’t just faster-it’s smarter?

In episode 39 of her podcast AI for Interior Designers, Jenna Gaidusek dropped what she calls a “game-changer” for design professionals: AI tools that don’t replace the designer but remove the parts of the job that slow them down. We’re talking 3D models generated from a few photos, realistic walkthroughs in minutes, and workflows so efficient, they actually let designers design again.

As part of Jenna’s new forum series, we’re exploring one big question from each podcast episode. And today’s question gets to the heart of every designer’s concern, and every client’s curiosity:

Q: Interior design is such a creative, hands-on profession. How can AI really help designers without replacing the artistry or overwhelming them with tech?

Jenna Gaidusek (Founder of AI for Interior Designers):

That’s the million-dollar question, and I totally get why it comes up. AI isn’t about replacing designers; it’s about reclaiming our time. Tools like Canva and Photoshop now have AI integrations that can help us go from mood board to polished 3D render in minutes.

But what’s even more exciting? I’ve been beta-testing a tool that takes just a few photos, even just three from different angles, and turns them into a fully functional 3D model. I uploaded it into my visualizer, dropped it into Mydoma, and within minutes I had a VR walkthrough, stills, videos, and everything I needed to show the client a full design concept. I didn’t have to rework anything manually. The AI interpreted the space accurately enough that I could get to the fun part that is refining the vision and tailoring the details for the client.

This kind of workflow used to take hours, sometimes days, between 3D modeling, render adjustments, lighting corrections, and exporting assets across platforms. Now, I’m seeing it happen in five to ten minutes. Yes, there are still caveats. Lighting isn’t always perfect, and there’s still room for manual finesse. But the time saved is undeniable. And because the work gets done faster, I don’t have to charge clients extra just to make up for the labor. That means I can offer elevated, high-touch experiences with less friction on both sides.

The biggest shift for me has been seeing AI not as a replacement, but as a design assistant. It’s like having a really fast, really smart intern who never sleeps. I can delegate the technical grunt work and stay focused on the big-picture creative thinking like client experience, style cohesion, and functionality.

Also, I’m not just talking theory. I’ve tested these workflows on real projects, like my husband’s office redesign. What would have been days of rendering and editing was turned around in a matter of moments. I could make decisions on finishes, lighting, and layout in near real-time. That’s what makes it a game-changer and not just for speed, but for creative freedom.

That’s why I created The DAIly, a training program with bite-sized lessons to help designers learn and apply these tools without getting overwhelmed. You don’t need to become a tech expert to benefit. You just need to know how to work with the technology, and that starts with understanding what’s possible.

Julia Reinert (Founder of The Lifestyle Historian):

Despite the fact that technology often gives me intense anxiety, when I heard Jenna talk about how much time AI programs can save, I was intrigued to learn more. Her energy and excitement in this specific podcast was contagious!

I’ve seen creative people, especially designers, spend hours stuck in programs, tweaking layouts, re-rendering images, or starting over completely because of one small change. It’s exhausting to watch, and I’ve felt the same way in my own work: caught in the cycle of doing things the “old way” simply because the new tools seem overwhelming. Technology makes my head swim. I often think, “By the time I figure this out, I could’ve just done it the way I always do.”

But here’s what I’ve learned: when it comes to AI, the time you invest in learning is worth it because it gives so much time back. And not just time, but clarity.

Even though I’m not an interior designer, I’ve used AI to streamline tedious writing tasks, plan events more efficiently, and even brainstorm content when I feel stuck. I’ve used it to create outlines in minutes that used to take me hours. I’ve had AI reformat documents, clean up data, and generate content calendars. All with my experience and insight prompting, directing, and collaborating with it. What used to leave me drained now works with me…once I stopped resisting the learning curve. 

That’s why Jenna’s approach really resonates with me. She’s not handing over the creativity to machines. She’s using AI as a tool to make space for creativity. And when she talks about being able to turn a few photos into a 3D model in minutes, and then use that model across multiple platforms to wow clients? That’s not just a time-saver, it’s a business-changer.

From a client’s perspective, I don’t want to pay for hours of clicking around in software. I want to pay for someone’s vision. And as someone running my own business, I feel the same: I want to spend my time on the why of what I do, not get stuck in the weeds of the how.

AI can help with that balance. It’s not magic, and it’s not perfect but it is powerful. And if someone like me, who’s about as tech-intimidated as they come, can figure out how to make it work? Then I truly believe anyone can.

You just have to give yourself the grace to learn it and the curiosity to see what it can unlock.

Final Thoughts (from both of us):

The future of interior design doesn’t mean losing the human touch. It means giving designers back the time and space to do what they do best. AI isn’t a replacement for creativity. It’s a tool to support it.

And for clients? This means more personalized experiences, faster turnaround, and clearer visualizations without ballooning costs.

So whether you’re a designer looking to lighten your workload or a curious observer wondering what all the AI fuss is about, this is one conversation worth joining.

Want to Explore AI in Design Without Feeling Overwhelmed?

Check out The DAIly, Jenna’s training program for designers who want to learn practical AI tools in bite-sized, stress-free lessons. Whether you’re brand new or already experimenting, it’s designed to meet you where you are.