What is the best free AI Interior Design tool in 2024?

With the abundance of AI interior design platforms available today, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones are truly worth trying. From virtual room planners to AI-powered style recommendations, each app claims to offer a unique advantage. However, the reality is that while AI technology continues to evolve rapidly, it’s not without its flaws — glitches, limited design options, and occasional inaccuracies are still common issues.

Finding the right platform can save you time, spark creativity, and transform the way you approach your projects. The question is, which app is maximizing the potential of current technology and will become your go-to for interior design projects?

I tested 5 top-rated, free AI interior design tools for image generation, each using a specific style suggested by the apps. I used the same input image and a consistent Scandinavian style to ensure a fair comparison. The goal is to help you make an informed decision when choosing your favourite app. Here are the results:

0. Input image

I chose this average-quality bedroom image to showcase a realistic and relatable living space that aligns with the everyday experiences of many people. The room’s modest design and furnishings is a good base to test AI apps.

I will focus on the 3 criteria for each of the generated images to assess the quality of the generations:

• Style authenticity
  Does the app create interiors that stay true to the intended design style? This involves evaluating whether the app can accurately replicate the nuances and specific characteristics of styles such as modern, rustic, or minimalist, without blending them inappropriately. In our case, we want to achieve Scandinavian style. You can check the design style on Pinterest to get an idea of the expectations.
• Quality of the image and lighting
  High-quality images with realistic lighting play a crucial role in showcasing the true potential of a space, influencing the perception of textures, colours, and overall ambience. We want to be excited about our generations! Images with poor lighting and material representation can only discourage further exploration or interest.
• Unwanted changes
  This is a big one in AI generations! AI tools can very often alter elements that should remain untouched, such as windows, doors, or structural features. A reliable AI design app should maintain the integrity of these essential elements while allowing for creative modifications in other areas.

SO, here are the outcomes:

1. RoomGPT

• Authentic Scandinavian Style: The design embodies authentic Scandinavian aesthetics with minimalist features, clean lines, and the use of natural materials.
• Poor Lighting: A notable drawback is the poor lighting, which detracts from the room’s overall ambience and functionality. The light spots look very unrealistic and there are random light sources in various places.
• Unwanted changes: A door has been removed. You may think it’s not a big deal, but in my opinion, it is changing the perception of the space in a significant way. And we simply don’t want these unnecessary mistakes on our images.

2. Room AI

• Inauthentic Scandinavian Style: The design attempts a Scandinavian aesthetic but falls short, lacking the true minimalist features and clean lines which are crucial for this interior design style. We end up having “a nice” bedroom, but it is far from any sophisticated design.
• Lighting is simply not present: There is no natural light coming through the window or any artificial lighting resulting in a flat and unexciting image.
• Unwanted changes: The ceiling has been reshaped. A door has been removed.

3. Collov AI

• Authentic Scandinavian Style: There is an essence of Scandinavian aesthetics, featuring minimalist elements, crisp lines, and a preference for natural materials. It is a clean, uncluttered space that creates a sense of calm and order.
• Unrealistic, distorted image: The major flaw of this image is its distorted and unrealistic depiction, lacking the authenticity and coherence typical of realistic representations.
• Unwanted changes: Once again, a door has been removed — a repetitive mistake that has now appeared in the third generation. This error may stem from the door being unclear in the original image. Let’s see if any of the other apps can get this right.

4. AI room planner

• Inauthentic Scandinavian Style: The image attempts to adopt a Scandinavian aesthetic but falls short of fully embodying the design style. Everything appears somewhat bulky and lacks the refined detailing characteristic of Scandinavian design. In my opinion, this is the weakest result among all the apps tested.
• Unrealistic, very basic image: The image lacks the authenticity and coherence typical of realistic representations. The lighting is absent, making the design appear very flat. Due to the poor quality of the generation, it is difficult to appreciate any aspect of the design.
• Unwanted changes: The door has been relocated, and the second armchair has been cropped awkwardly. Additionally, there is a noticeable disproportion between the two bedside tables, which affects the overall balance of the design.

5. Xona.ai

• Authentic Scandinavian Style: This design gets the Scandinavian aesthetics most accurately in my opinion. Previous designs had some basic understanding of the style: clean lines, and a grey colour palette, but Scandinavian aesthetics are about so much more — they embody a philosophy of living well, emphasizing functionality, simplicity, and a deep connection to nature. This sophisticated blend of criteria is something that can only be truly appreciated by the overall feeling conveyed when looking at the space. I can definitely get this vibe here!
• Good Lighting: The image has balanced lighting, which enhances its realism and authenticity, creating a more immersive experience. It is truly pleasant to view.
• No Unwanted Changes: The primary elements of the room, such as the door, windows, and ceiling shape, have remained intact. This is the only app that has not made any frustrating mistakes in the fundamental character and structure of the space.

Which one is your favourite? My pick is Xona.ai. I appreciate its thoughtful design and the way it preserves the existing architectural elements, which shows a deep understanding of user needs. It seems that the creators have utilized the best available technology to offer real value to their users. I’m curious to hear your thoughts — do you agree with my choice, or do you have another favourite?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and see if you agree with my pick! Please leave your comment below or send me a DM.

p.s.
Also, stay tuned! I regularly review new apps to see if there are any new and noteworthy ones worth sharing.