AI tools can now restyle a photo of a room in seconds, which makes interior designers wonder what clients will still pay for. The data is reassuring: interior design scores low for generative AI exposure, and US projections expect modest growth.
The short answer: current evidence does not point to AI replacing interior designers. The ILO's 2025 index places interior designers and decorators in its minimal exposure band, with a mean score of 0.37. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average, linked to renovation work, building codes and accessibility standards. AI is speeding up concepts and renderings; turning them into a real, buildable, compliant space stays human. Projections can change.
How exposed interior designers are
From the ILO's 2025 index, which scores tasks 0 to 1 for generative AI exposure:
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO band | Mean task score |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic and Multimedia Designers (for comparison) | Gradient 2 | 0.49 |
| Interior Designers and Decorators | Minimal exposure | 0.37 |
| Product and Garment Designers | Minimal exposure | 0.35 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Interior designers | Grow 3% | About 7,700 |
The BLS expects homeowners and companies to need interior designers for renovation projects, and says a greater focus on building codes and on designing spaces that meet accessibility standards may also help create jobs. About a quarter of interior designers are self-employed. The BLS notes that licensing rules vary by state; check your own state's rules.
Design tasks AI is taking on
- Mood boards and quick style concepts.
- Restyling photos of existing rooms.
- Draft renderings and visual options for clients.
- Product and material searches.
- Drafting proposals and client emails.
What stays with the designer
- The real space: measuring, light, structure and how people move through a room.
- Codes and accessibility: the BLS growth reasons are exactly the parts a generated image does not handle.
- Clients: understanding how people live or work, and guiding decisions.
- Delivery: working with contractors, suppliers and schedules.
- Checking AI images: a rendering can show furniture that does not exist or a layout that cannot be built.
How the job is changing
AI makes early concepts faster and cheaper, so clients may arrive with their own generated ideas. Designers who turn ideas into spaces that work, meet code and get built hold the value. Ownership of fully AI-generated images is covered in AI-generated work and copyright.
See also will AI replace architects?, will AI replace graphic designers? and will AI take my job?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for interior designers at $67,190 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace interior designers?
Not on current evidence. The ILO places interior designers in its minimal exposure band, and the BLS projects 3 percent US growth from 2025 to 2035.
How exposed are interior designers to AI?
In the ILO 2025 index, interior designers and decorators score 0.37, in the minimal exposure band.
Why is interior design projected to grow?
The BLS points to renovation projects and a greater focus on building codes and accessibility standards.
How do interior designers use AI?
For mood boards, quick concepts, restyled room photos, draft renderings, product searches and drafting client communication.
What design work stays human?
Working with the real space, codes and accessibility, clients, contractors and suppliers, and checking that AI images can actually be built.