At The Living House, as an online interior design company, we use technology to help busy families create spaces that are stylish, functional, and deeply personal. Working digitally gives us the flexibility to meet you wherever you are, no matter how hectic life gets.

And yes, that includes using AI — but not in the way you might think.

AI is a tool — not the designer

AI is everywhere, and there’s no escaping it. Over the past year, it feels like it’s accelerated faster than ever. It’s a powerful tool, and that’s exactly how we see it: a tool. Not a replacement.

At The Living House, we believe in embracing technology, not getting left behind. That’s why we use AI as a helpful tool, like creating 3D renders from visualisations we’ve already designed with care. These aren’t AI-generated guesses, they’re built from design schemes we’ve poured our hearts into, making sure every piece works for your home, your budget, and your real family life.

That’s why we say AI is a tool, it’s not the one creating your design. It doesn’t know how you live, how you need your room to work for the whole family, or how your space needs to feel.

The power of the human touch

We believe the human touch is everything, designing a home is personal and emotional and it’s full of details that only come from real human connection.

AI doesn’t know that your hallway turns into chaos every morning, or that the mountain of sports kits needs a real storage solution, not just a style suggestion. It doesn’t know how many people you need to seat in your living room, or that the space needs to evolve with your children, from baby to toddler to teenager. But we do.

We take the time to get to know you and your family. We listen to what’s not working and what you want to achieve and how you want your home to feel. We even ask about your hobbies, your favourite holidays, and the kind of art you love, so we can create a space that’s not just beautiful, but truly bespoke and designed for real life.

This is why we think human touch is so important when it comes to interior design and something AI can’t replace. We bring empathy, creativity and real conversation to every project!

Why expert advice beats algorithms when it comes to colour

One of our customers shared how they once asked AI for paint ideas for their bathroom and it got it wrong. It didn’t pick up on the lilac undertone in their tiles and recommended an orange-peach shade that completely clashed.

They turned to us to avoid another costly mistake. After assessing the space properly, we recommended London Clay by Farrow and Ball, a warm and rich brown with depth. It worked beautifully with the existing tones and brought the whole look together.

This is a reminder that while AI can be helpful too, nothing beats a trained eye and interior design expert when it comes to choosing the right colour.

Could AI have designed this family living room instead of us?

Our customer came to us for help with their new-build L-shaped living room. It was an awkwardly shaped space that needed to work hard: a play area and toy storage for everyday life with kids, but also a cosy, grown-up space to unwind in at the end of the day.

We explored several layout options, finding real solutions, from hidden storage and practical zoning to plenty of seating for family and guests. We sourced a stain-resistant sofa that could handle snack time and drink spills, and chose a washable rug that made the room feel warm and inviting while clearly separating the play area. The play space had to be easy to tidy up in seconds, so the adults could reset the mood and start the next Netflix series in peace.

And these are just a few of the many details we consider when designing a space for real family life. We think through every piece, not just how it looks, but how it works.

Could AI have suggested a layout? Maybe. But truly understanding what this family needed came from real conversations, thoughtful questions, and years of hands-on design experience, not a simple “design my living room” prompt.

How are we using AI?

When you work with us at The Living House, you’re not just entering a random prompt and waiting for AI to deliver a generic idea. You’re having real conversations with Becky, Catherine, and Sophie. Between us we have years of experience, and we genuinely care. We’re invested in designing a room you’ll love, one that’s as practical as it is beautiful.

We often say it’s like we move into your home (at least in our heads!) while we’re working on it. That’s how much we care about understanding your space and your family. We’re just as excited about the transformation as you are.

We do use AI and we’re always open to including it when it genuinely benefits our customers. Whether it helps you better visualise a design or streamlines part of the process, we see it as a useful tool. But we also know it’s no replacement for experience. That’s why we’re committed to adapting and growing with technology, using AI to complement our expertise—not replace it.

And yes, AI did help me write this blog—but not without my ideas, opinions, and years of experience keeping it in check!

Ready to design a home that fits your family?

If you’re ready to create a home that truly fits your family, we’d love to be part of your journey.

Take a look at our online interior design packages to give you all the help you need. Whether you’re considering a full redesign or a spruce up, we can take the stress away, and give you the confidence to move forward. Our online interior design packages are a flat fee and we can work to any budget large or small, saving you money along the way and ensuring you get the results you want and expect!

Click here to start your project

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