We’re living in a time where AI can write your grocery list, plan your vacation, and apparently, pick the perfect paint color for your living room. With new apps and rendering tools popping up daily, it’s tempting to believe technology can take the guesswork out of design.
But here’s the truth: AI doesn’t replace a trained eye. It enhances it at best.
And as a color consultant and designer, I’ve seen firsthand how clients using AI to “figure it out themselves” often end up more overwhelmed and no closer to a decision than when they started.
I’ve worked with multiple clients who used AI to apply color to their homes - some through rendering tools, others through apps that promise instant palettes. They came to me frustrated. Why?
Because AI might be able to apply color to a photo, but it can’t analyze a space. It doesn’t evaluate undertones. It doesn’t factor in the way sunlight changes in your room throughout the day. It doesn’t notice your stone fireplace, walnut floors, or the tricky transition from your north-facing kitchen to your open-concept living room.
And it definitely doesn’t explain why one color works and another doesn’t.
Even as a professional, I use Photoshop to create mockups - but even that has limitations. Digital tools can help visualize the idea of color, but they don’t render texture, finish, or the way natural light affects real surfaces.
Translation: What you see on screen is rarely what you get on the wall. That’s why large paint samples and in-person comparisons still matter - no matter how sophisticated your tech tools are.
Color specification isn’t just picking a pretty shade. It’s a strategic process that starts with asking the right questions:
Most of the clients who used AI tools didn’t know what to ask or how to prompt the technology. Because the foundational understanding of color -hue, value, chroma, undertone, context - is missing. That’s where training and experience come in.
Where AI often overwhelms, a designer filters.
I help clients make cohesive, informed choices that consider the whole picture - not just one wall or one trend. I test colors in person, under real lighting, next to real finishes. I explain what we’re doing and why it works. And I support my clients through the inevitable moments of doubt.
Because paint is not just color - it’s an investment. It’s atmosphere. It’s you reflected back in the space.
AI can support the process. It can spark ideas, offer visualization, and save time. But it’s a tool - not a solution. Without the knowledge to interpret what AI gives you, you’re still left guessing.
Color consulting is part art, part science, and part human connection. That’s something an algorithm simply can’t replicate.
Need help bridging the gap between inspiration and decision?I’d love to work with you to create a color palette that feels intentional, personal, and just right. Let's get your home from "not quite there" to exactly right.
