Believe it or not, January is right around the corner. Because best-of compilations are a thing this time of year, we asked five designers—Jess Ebert, Stacy Elliston, Megan Kornegay, and Regina and Robin Reaves—to share the digital tools and technology they swore by in 2025.
The Power of Simplicity
“At the start of the year, our team set a goal to simplify the way we work. With a firm full of busy working moms, efficiency isn’t just nice to have—it keeps us afloat. We found Trello, an online project management tool, and it’s been a game changer. It’s helped us collaborate more smoothly, gives me a clear snapshot of what’s happening across all our projects, and guides discussions in our weekly team meetings. Even though Trello isn’t designed specifically for interior designers, there’s something really valuable about blending the process-driven side of our business with the creative, visual energy that inspires it.” —Jess Ebert, Four Story Interiors, Charlotte
All In On AI
“The strategic use of AI-powered tools within our internal workflow has been especially valuable for us this year. In the multifamily design world, our clients are developers balancing fast timelines, large-scale coordination and significant investments, so efficiency is essential. While we never use AI to design or make creative decisions, we do lean on it to streamline early research, organize large volumes of project data, and prepare preliminary visual references. These tools help us move more quickly through administrative and logistical steps, allowing our team to stay focused on what truly matters: creating thoughtful, customized interiors that align with each development’s brand, market positioning and long-term goals. In that sense, AI has allowed us to work smarter and deliver an elevated, highly personalized design experience without compromising the creative integrity our developer partners rely on.” —Megan Kornegay, Level Five Designs, Raleigh, North Carolina
In-House and Outsourcing
“Invoicing platforms like Clockify have been a wonderful time-saver for me this year. Creating efficiencies is imperative, and intuitive time-tracking and management tools have given me [hours] back to focus on project work and mentoring my team. The growing market of fractional services has also been an incredible resource. Being able to tap into marketing, bookkeeping and CFO support as needed has been incredibly efficient—and a real win for the bottom line.” —Stacy Elliston, HIVE Collaborative, Dallas
Mixed Media
“A great resource that we loved using is videography. Capturing our clients during the reveal of their home transformation is exhilarating. You never get a second chance to view their first impression of the space and take it all in. It is like Christmas when you see the smiles on their faces.” —Regina and Robin Reaves, R&R Interior Design 365, Charlotte
