3 French Home Staging AI Tools

Imagine being able to showcase a vacant, dated, or cluttered property in its best light, in just a few clicks and for a fraction of the cost of physical staging. That's the promise of virtual home staging, a practice that has been radically transformed by the arrival of artificial intelligence. Gone are the days of complex 3D software and hours spent on modeling. Today, powerful algorithms can furnish, decorate, and renovate a simple interior photo with stunning realism.

In this booming field, France is making its mark with innovative solutions. In our experience, these tools are no longer mere gadgets but true performance drivers for real estate agents, developers, and even individuals looking to envision their future homes. We will explore the best French platforms, starting with the industry's go-to choice: Lift My Place.

AI home staging is a process that uses machine learning algorithms, particularly diffusion models or generative adversarial networks (GANs), to digitally alter photos of interior spaces.

In practice, the user uploads a photo of a room (either empty or furnished), and the AI will:

1. Analyze the image: It identifies walls, floors, openings (windows, doors), and perspective.
2. Suggest modifications: Based on instructions, it can remove existing furniture from the room and then add new furnishings and decor in a predefined style (Scandinavian, industrial, modern, etc.).
3. Generate a realistic rendering: The AI calculates shadows, lighting, and textures to ensure the final result is coherent and immersive.

The advantages are considerable: a phenomenal time saving, drastically reduced costs compared to physical home staging, and the ability to offer multiple ambiances for the same property to appeal to a wider range of potential buyers.

When we started testing different virtual home staging solutions, one platform quickly stood out for the quality and professionalism of its renderings: Lift My Place. This French startup has managed to avoid the common pitfalls of the industry to offer a powerful and particularly well-designed tool.

User Experience at the Heart of the Process

In our experience, getting started with Lift My Place is remarkably simple. The process unfolds in a few smooth steps:

1. Upload the photo: You upload a picture of your room.
2. Select options: You choose the type of makeover (interior or exterior), the desired decoration style from a wide catalog, and the actions to be performed (empty the room, furnish it, renovate floors or walls).
3. Generation: The AI gets to work and, in just a few minutes, provides you with a transformed version of your space.

What particularly impressed us is the relevance of the suggestions. The AI doesn't just randomly place furniture; it respects proportions, flow within the space, and stylistic consistency.

The Key Strengths That Make a Difference

Lift My Place stands out from many competitors, including international ones, on crucial points that show a real understanding of professional needs:

• 4K export without a watermark: This is THE major advantage. Most free or entry-level platforms place a logo (watermark) on the generated images or limit the resolution. Lift My Place allows you to export visuals in very high definition (4K), ready to be used on real estate portals or in print brochures, without any branding. This is an essential mark of professionalism.
• Controlled realism: Where some AIs fall into the trap of hyper-saturated renderings that can look almost "tacky" or cartoonish, Lift My Place maintains a subtle balance. The textures are fine, the lighting is natural, and the furniture is well-integrated. The result is aspirational yet believable, which is crucial to avoid misleading potential visitors.
• Advanced features: Beyond simple furnishing, the tool offers "virtual renovation" functions like changing floor coverings, painting walls, or even creating exterior renderings (patios, gardens).

It's an ideal solution for real estate agents looking to enhance their listings, interior designers wanting to present concepts quickly, or developers wishing to illustrate the potential of their new projects.

While Lift My Place specializes in transforming existing photos, other French players offer complementary approaches, often focused on 3D modeling and space planning.

HomeByMe

Developed by the French giant Dassault Systèmes (known for professional software like CATIA and SOLIDWORKS), HomeByMe is a very accessible 3D modeling solution. Instead of starting with a photo, here you create a 2D floor plan of your property, which you can then visualize and furnish in 3D.

• Its strong point: Precision. It's the perfect tool for those who want to plan a layout down to the centimeter, test different partition configurations, or confirm the dimensions of a future sofa. The authority of Dassault Systèmes in the 3D field is a guarantee of technical quality.
• Use case: Ideal for complete renovation projects or for designing a space from scratch.

Kozikaza

Kozikaza, acquired by the Adeo group (Leroy Merlin), positions itself as a community platform for home improvement assistance. It includes a powerful and free 2D/3D planning tool, very similar to HomeByMe.

• Its strong point: The ecosystem. Kozikaza is more than just software; it's a community where users share their projects, ideas, and advice. Furthermore, its integration with the Leroy Merlin product catalog makes it easy to go from virtual to reality by allowing you to estimate the cost of your project.
• Use case: Excellent for individuals embarking on DIY or decoration projects who are looking for both a planning tool and a source of inspiration.

To get the most out of these AI visual generators, it's not enough to just press a button. Here are some tips from our experience using these platforms.

1. Provide a High-Quality Photo

The quality of the result directly depends on the quality of the source photo. Take your picture with good lighting (natural light if possible), using a wide-angle lens (without too much distortion), and from a corner of the room to give a good sense of the space. Remember to declutter the area as much as possible before taking the shot.

2. Define a Clear Style

Don't choose a style at random. Think about the target audience for the property. For a city-center apartment aimed at young professionals, an industrial or contemporary style would be appropriate. For a country house, a rustic chic or bohemian style might work better. The AI is a tool, but the AI-driven design strategy remains human.

3. Use Renderings as a Decision-Making Tool

Virtual home staging is a powerful emotional trigger. Use "before/after" visuals in your listings to help buyers envision themselves in the space. It's an excellent way to show the potential of a property that might not look like much at first glance. This can significantly increase an ad's appeal and the number of viewing requests.

4. Be Transparent and Realistic

It is crucial to clearly state in the listings that the furnished photos are virtual renderings. Transparency is key to building trust. Additionally, make sure the proposed layouts are feasible. Suggesting an open-plan kitchen when a load-bearing wall prevents it would be counterproductive and disappointing for visitors.

The integration of these tools into real estate processes represents a major step forward in terms of artificial intelligence and productivity. They help create value, accelerate sales, and offer an enriched client experience, all while showcasing French technological expertise.

To ensure the reliability of our information, we rely on direct testing of the platforms as well as industry-leading sources.

• Lift My Place - The platform's official website. Allows you to review features, pricing, and example renderings.
• HomeByMe (Dassault Systèmes) - Official website, showcasing the modeling software's capabilities and its connection to a leading French technology company.
• FNAIM (Fédération Nationale de l'Immobilier) - The reference organization in France for real estate professionals. Their publications and studies help contextualize the importance of property enhancement.