How Digital Twins Are Reshaping Interior Design Firms

In the fast-evolving world of workplace design, interior design firms are turning to innovative technologies to stay ahead. Among these advancements, the concept of digital twins is proving particularly transformative for commercial interior renovation projects. Gone are the days when project decisions relied on guesswork or two-dimensional plans. Today, digital twins enable design professionals to simulate, analyse, and optimise physical spaces virtually—long before any physical work begins.

As interior design firms pursue smarter, more efficient renovation strategies, digital twins are emerging as indispensable tools. Their capacity to visualise, test, and refine ideas within a virtual environment is helping to redefine not just how spaces look, but how they function, interact with users, and support long-term operational goals.


What Is a Digital Twin?
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical space that replicates its structure, dimensions, and performance characteristics in real time. For interior design firms, this means creating a dynamic digital model of a workspace that can be explored, modified, and analysed with impressive accuracy.

Built using technologies like 3D scanning, photogrammetry, and artificial intelligence, digital twins integrate data from various sources to create a living model of the environment. Tools such as Matterport and Twinn allow for immersive 3D rendering, empowering designers to walk clients through a realistic version of the proposed space before any physical changes are made.


Optimising Planning and Design
Interior renovation projects are notorious for their complexity, often requiring seamless coordination across multiple disciplines. Digital twins simplify this process by enabling designers to test ideas virtually and troubleshoot problems in advance.

For interior design firms, the ability to model lighting, material finishes, spatial arrangements and even thermal performance before implementation is invaluable. By simulating these factors digitally, teams can avoid costly missteps during construction, resulting in better resource allocation and improved design accuracy.

Moreover, sustainability considerations—like energy efficiency and material selection—can be built into the digital twin, allowing firms to model environmental performance and reduce a building’s carbon footprint from the planning stage.


Enhancing Collaboration Among Stakeholders
Interior renovation often involves diverse stakeholders, from designers and project managers to clients and contractors. Digital twins facilitate real-time collaboration by providing a shared visual and data-driven model.

With cloud-based platforms, everyone involved can access the digital twin remotely, annotate designs, offer suggestions, and make decisions collaboratively. According to industry insights, organisations using digital twins experience significantly higher collaboration rates, creating a more agile and responsive design process.

Such tools empower interior design firms to manage expectations more effectively while reducing delays associated with miscommunication or late-stage changes.


Elevating the Client Experience
One of the most powerful advantages of digital twins lies in how they enhance client engagement. Instead of poring over blueprints or static renderings, clients can immerse themselves in a virtual walkthrough of the redesigned space. This not only helps them visualise the end result but also builds trust in the design process.

Incorporating virtual reality and generative AI, clients can even explore design variations, experiment with layouts or finishes, and better understand the impact of their choices. This interactivity boosts confidence in the renovation’s direction and encourages meaningful feedback at every stage.


Reducing Costs Through Error Prevention
Mistakes in renovation projects are often expensive. From misaligned structural elements to incompatible finishes, small errors can escalate into major budget concerns. Digital twins mitigate these risks by identifying potential issues before construction begins.

A notable case study from the University of Liverpool demonstrated this advantage: by using digital twins to plan refurbishment scenarios, the university achieved operational cost savings of £25,000 and reduced energy consumption by 23%. In broader studies, companies implementing digital twin technologies have reported average cost reductions nearing 19%.

For interior design firms, these figures underscore the practical value of this technology in not just elevating creativity, but also delivering financial and operational efficiency.


Addressing Implementation Challenges
While the benefits are significant, adopting digital twins comes with its challenges. Interior design firms must invest in high-quality data collection methods, such as LiDAR scanning, and ensure their software and hardware infrastructure can support complex modelling.

Additionally, firms must consider data privacy and cybersecurity. A digital twin holds sensitive information about spatial layouts, occupancy behaviour, and sometimes even infrastructure vulnerabilities. As such, safeguarding this data is crucial—particularly in commercial environments where confidentiality is paramount.

Moreover, successful implementation requires skilled professionals who understand both design and data. Training and upskilling are essential to fully leverage the potential of digital twins.


Conclusion
Digital twins are not a futuristic concept—they are a present-day solution reshaping how interior design firms approach renovation projects. From detailed planning and sustainable modelling to enhanced collaboration and client engagement, the benefits are tangible and far-reaching.

As the commercial design landscape grows more complex and demands greater agility, digital twins offer a competitive edge. They equip interior design firms with the insight and flexibility to create smarter, more adaptive workspaces that meet both aesthetic and functional goals.

At Turnkey Interiors, we are embracing this innovation to deliver exceptional results in our commercial renovation projects. By integrating digital twins into our design process, we ensure our clients benefit from the highest level of precision, transparency, and collaboration. Get in touch with us today.