Finally - AI Proves Useful

Virtual Staging

I am not a fan of AI.

I don’t want to see if it can make me look like I did when I was sixteen (it can’t).

I don’t want to see what my great-grandparents would look like if their pictures could become color videos (it’s creepy).

I am not interested in any of the other transformative things it can do with people’s photos.

I do not need it to write for me. I do not want to see what it thinks is the answer to a question I might ask online. I absolutely do not want it trying to drive my car, act like my servant, or talk to me.

I’m old fashioned that way.

But I have found one use for AI that I can totally get behind. It can help home buyers visualize what an empty house will look like with furnishings.

Here’s the upper landing of the Big House in a Small City as it is right now:

Big, bright, open. A ton of potential. But how would you furnish it? It might be hard to visualize.

Here’s what AI gave me:

It’s not perfect, I know. There are some weird little blue spots. The floor looks “off.” The wall where the plant is looks a bit odd. I have NO idea what that wicker thing by the bedroom door is. But overall, it gives me the idea. And that’s helpful.

There are some really bad virtual staging apps out there. And there are some really expensive ones. But this one’s cheap, fast, and honestly, pretty good.

Here are a couple of other pictures from the same house, courtesy AI.

Honestly, I think they’re pretty impressive.

I am also surprised to discover I really like Scandinavian and MCM furnishings. I didn’t think I did.

The programs give you options, though maximalist, Gypsy Caravan, and Victorian, my usual favorites, are not available. But there’s Industrial, “Luxury” (which, to me, mostly looks like glass beads and bright gold junk, though the bedroom here is in that style and it’s okay), Standard, Modern and the two options I went for - Scandinavian and MCM.

Do buyers have this kind of furniture? Maybe not. But it’s still a great way to visualize a space with furniture.

And apparently my tastes are evolving. I was a Grandma’s house fan most of my life. Boho, Shabby Chic, and Maximalist were my wheelhouse.

Now I’m looking at drenched colors and feeling like it’s a bit too dark, too deep. I will never go for that antiseptic all white vibe favored by most short term rentals. It’s boring.

But lighter, brighter, less fabric and more space? This grandma is kinda liking it.

Though there will always be a place for a ruffle and a few cabbage roses in my world.

Want to play around with virtual staging? This is the one I used.

https://www.virtualstagingai.app/

One pic is free, so you can play with one picture. Don’t get carried away unless you are ready to pay for it.