Interior Design Trends 2026: AI

Scandi homes & interiors expert, Catharina Björkman, shares three golden rules for AI interior design.

Catharina Björkman, Scandi homes & interiors expert at Contura, says: “AI has made a mark on all areas of modern life, with many of us now turning to large language models such as ChatGPT and Claude for help both at work and at home. So, it’s only natural that AI interior design is having its moment in the spotlight.

“For the everyday user wanting inspiration and help structuring their ideas to freshen up their home it’s undoubtedly a useful – and fun – tool, but it does have its limitations.”

Read on for Catharina’s three golden rules of AI interior design…

1. Do… ask for general design advice
   If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to improving your interiors, asking an AI platform for help can be a good way to help you understand the overall process.Just one generic query to ChatGPT – “I want to re-design my living room – where should I start” for example – will provide solid food for thought, breaking the design process down into different steps – foundations (walls, colour scheme, paint vs wallpaper, flooring, large furniture placement), structure (rugs, curtains, lighting), textures (wood, linen, wool, metal, stone) and personality (art, books, decorative objects, plants).It can also provide helpful design tips and tricks, such as not rushing to fill empty space, as a room with breathing space can feel more luxurious and calming.
2. Do… use AI design tools
   If you have a good idea of how you’d like your space to look, platforms like Rooms GPT, Interior AI, Reimagine Home AI, and Home Designs AI can translate text commands into detailed renderings, allowing you to envision your revamped space or compare different ideas with unprecedented speed.This is ideal if you are struggling to visualise how your designs would work in practice. You will need to spend time playing with the platforms to understand how to create the most effective prompts. It’s also important to understand the limitations of these platforms.One major consideration is that they aren’t always able to distinguish between everyday clutter and furniture, meaning you will need to tidy your home before uploading any images to avoid your overflowing laundry basket being incorporated as a modern design feature in the renderings. Yes, really.
3. Don’t… overly rely on AI
   AI platforms should be used as a supplementary tool to provide inspiration as opposed to generating definitive plans. They do not provide correct scaling, won’t account for structural constraints, and can disregard other practicalities such as natural light, so think of them more as digital mood boards.Something AI will never be able to advise on is how a room makes you feel, which is so important. Our living spaces should provide joy, sanctuary, or serenity.If you’ve used AI for general guidance and feel that something is off, trust your gut and make further tweaks or consult with a professional. And if you end up disliking an interiors refresh that has been inspired by AI, you should always be able to make simple tweaks to correct it – adjust the colour palette, move furniture around, or swap out soft furnishings or artwork.

For more information, please visit www.contura.eu.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

• Rooster PR will coordinate comment, interview and profile opportunities for Contura UK Country Manager, Phil Wood.
• The Contura PR team will also arrange visits to the nearest Contura Design Centre dealerships or the Contura showroom in Doncaster to see the product range.

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About Contura:
Contura is Europe’s leading manufacturer of wood burning stoves, offering an extensive range of classic and contemporary wood burners; from traditional insert stoves suitable for existing fireplaces, to freestanding statement models made with innovative materials such as soapstone.

Starting at £1,295, Contura stoves are premium yet affordable. Award winning, timeless Swedish design means the products complement or enhance any style of home, whilst also offering outstanding performance, maximum efficiency, practicality and ease of use.

Designed and assembled at the factory located in Markaryd, Sweden, and manufactured to the highest standards, Contura stoves are highly energy efficient, offering powerful convection, superior combustion technology and clean burning systems. All Contura stoves are DEFRA Clean Air Act exempt and thus approved for use in Smoke Control Areas.

Contura stoves can be purchased through a network of 165 independent retailers nationwide.

Contura is part of the NIBE group, a Swedish manufacturing company producing world class solutions in sustainable energy across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

Contura is a founding member of the Stove Industry Association (SIA) in the UK.

Contura is a proud supporter of Eden: People+Planet’s efforts to restore and monitor over 241,150 hectares of land, creating jobs to support local communities and the environment in the long-term. Since 2018, Contura has funded the planting of over 170,000 trees.

For more information, please visit www.contura.eu