AI tools are on the rise but how is AI technology changing bathroom design? Can AI be used as a primary design tool, or does it find its place in a supporting role? We asked interior designer Anna Straw if AI has a place in bathroom design.

Straw tested out some of the most accessible AI design tools on the market to see how these compared to more traditional pathways, by incorporating them into her bathroom design process. Read on for her full reviews.

Midjourney

3/5

Great for:

 Kickstarting your bathroom renovation journey with creative freedom

 Getting a loose idea of the kind of vibe you could achieve in a space

 Exploring how different colours, materials and elements interact together

Midjourney is a generative AI tool capable of converting natural language prompts into images. It allows you to input large volumes of descriptive data to generate highly customisable output, making the tool ideal for exploring your creativity.

One thing to bear in mind when using Midjourney is cost. Unlike other AI tools, there is no free version, so users must consider budget before signing up.

Another consideration is user skill level. Output from this AI can vary in quality and realism depending on the prompt given, so a certain level of experience with prompt engineering is beneficial. It’s unlikely that complete beginners to either generative AI tools or interior design will be able to get the most out of Midjourney on first use.

The Nuie 3D Design Tool

5/5

Great for

 Designing a fully customised bathroom you can bring to life

 Experimenting with bathroom layout

 Exploring and shopping the Nuie, Hudson Reed and Old London product ranges

The Nuie 3D Design Tool allows users to create their dream bathroom with ease, from home, and with no previous design experience necessary. It features real products and can be tailored to the measurements of your space.

I found this tool quick, easy and user-friendly. You simply input the exact dimensions and shape of your bathroom, including doors and windows, for an accurate depiction of your space. The tool even allows you to compare various colours and finishes for units, baths, showers, fixtures and more.

Finally, the tool automatically produces a printable product list including all the items you selected for your bathroom design. I found this feature particularly useful, as it meant I could go straight to the website or my local merchant to order all of the exact items from my designs, ready for installation.

SmartDraw

3/5

Great for:

 Spatial planning

 Adding specific measurements

 Producing printable designs

SmartDraw is a unified visual app that combines diagramming, whiteboarding and data. It’s commonly used for business and technical diagramming, but it can also be employed for designing spaces like bathrooms.

SmartDraw provides a range of templates and symbols specifically designed for floor plans and interior design, making it easier to create bathroom layouts.

I found the "Show Dimensions" function especially useful, as it allowed me to easily amend measurements from those provided within the app to those of the specific products I wanted to include in my design – for example, a larger shower tray or bath. Adding relevant dimensions gives a sense of how the space would work and allows you to get the most out of the space available.

The "Measure Distance" feature allowed me to easily see how much space is between products, which is helpful, for example, if you want to ensure that you can reach a warm towel from within the shower enclosure.

Cost is also a consideration – the pricing model of SmartDraw can vary, so for amateur interior designers looking to just experiment with a bathroom refresh, it may not be the most budget-appropriate option.

DecorMatters

2/5

Great for:

 Making beginner design tasks fun

 Using AR to visualise your design at home

 Accessing customised recommendations

DecorMatters is an online platform combining AI, AR and online shopping capabilities for an innovative and immersive interior design experience. The platform is suitable for complete design beginners and offers a gamified experience where users can access interactive design tasks to improve their skills and earn rewards.

To fully utilise the AR features, users need devices that support augmented reality. This could be a limitation for those without compatible smartphones or tablets.

When testing the app, I realised that it’s very easy to accidentally change the size of the elements in your design when you try to move them around. It’s also tough to visualise how pieces of furniture will fit into your space in reality, as their size can be adjusted so they don’t appear to scale in your design. The clunkiness of the tool means it’s also hard to set the perspective of individual items.

Another issue is the shoppable products – many are either out of stock or no longer in production, limiting the usefulness of the shopping feature.

While AI can offer valuable assistance in the design process, it is crucial to view it as a tool that complements human creativity and expertise rather than a complete replacement. Collaborating with professional designers offers access to a wealth of experience and human skills. When combined with the mindful use of AI, professional design knowledge and principles ensure your bathroom remodel will remain a well-loved sanctuary for years to come.

About The Roxor Group

The Roxor Group is an industry-leading British manufacturer of quality bathroom products and accessories.

Experts in bringing consumers the latest in bathroom trends, Roxor’s range of brands offer everything from luxury to affordability, designed to suit every consumer’s needs with sales continuing to grow year on year.

The Roxor Group and its brands understand the Creativity, Elegance and Escapism that is the Bathroom:

• nuie offers affordable style intended to make any bathroom beautiful - exclusively designed with everyone in mind.

• Sister brand Hudson Reed offers crafted bathroom designs made easy for those seeking inspiration and elegance.

With its head office based in Halifax, Yorkshire, The Roxor Group employs over 570 employees operating around the world.

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