153 - Let's Talk about AI and How You Can Integrated it into Your Design Business in 2026

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In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura breaks down how interior designers can begin using AI in a practical, ethical and non-intimidating way in 2026. Whether you are AI curious, quietly resistant, or already dabbling, this conversation is designed to help you see AI as a supportive team member rather than a threat to your creativity or value. AI cannot replace your intuition, your eye, or the human connection you build with clients, but it can absolutely remove the repetitive, time consuming work that keeps you out of your creative zone.

Laura walks through simple, starter level ways to introduce AI into your business right now – from drafting client emails and summarizing meetings to supporting social media content, refining website copy, organizing project communication and assisting with early concept exploration. From there, she explores more advanced strategies for designers who are ready to integrate AI deeper into their workflow, including AI assisted design development, procurement support, predictive project planning, business intelligence analytics and client style profiling. Finally, she offers a future focused look at where AI is heading in the design industry, and why designers who learn to partner with it will be able to work with more ease, clarity and profitability.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to think about AI as a tool that supports your business, not a replacement for your talent
• Simple, beginner friendly ways to use AI for admin, communication, content and client support
• How more advanced AI tools can streamline design development, procurement and project management
• Why AI will increasingly become a core business support system while designers remain at the heart of the creative process

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Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the  principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON.  Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition. 

The Business of Beautiful Spaces  I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design                                      I @thorntondesign