SketchUp & AI Masterclass
To get right to the point:
AI is no longer just something you can use outside of SketchUp to work more efficiently, creatively, and professionally.
With the SketchUp AI Assistant, SketchUp has now truly made AI an integral part of the design process. You can now quickly render your SketchUp model using AI—in part with the help of Nano Banana—upload images of your favorite sofa to create a 3D model from them, and the collaboration between SketchUp and Claude is also starting to take shape.
For this reason, I’m organizing a:
SKETCHUP & AI MASTERCLASS.
On October 6 in Amsterdam from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Maximum of 10 participants.
Until August 30, you can secure your spot with the early bird discount for just 197 instead of 247 (excluding VAT).
Act fast, because these Masterclasses always fill up quickly.
What exactly can you do with AI in SketchUp?
1. AI Assistant: AI is now built into SketchUp
The new AI Assistant is located in your SketchUp Warehouse and essentially serves as the gateway to AI within SketchUp. It currently includes two key features: AI Help and Generate Object.
AI Help is like a built-in SketchUp expert. While you're working, you can ask questions such as how to use a specific tool, how to solve a problem, or what the best workflow is. It pulls information from the official SketchUp ecosystem. Fun fact: AI Help doesn't cost any AI credits.
But for interior designers, I find Generate Object much more interesting.
In fact, you can:
enter a text prompt and have it turned into a 3D object;
or upload an image and have a 3D object generated from it;
In addition, the object will be given photorealistic materials/PBR textures;
After that, you can use it right away in your SketchUp model.
For example: Let's say you see an image of an armchair on Pinterest or on a furniture brand's website that isn't available in 3D Warehouse. Instead of spending hours searching for it or modeling it yourself, you can use that image to generate a 3D object.
2. The connection to Claude is even more interesting
This is very recent: SketchUp now has an official SketchUp Connector for Claude.
That means that in Claude.ai, you can simply describe in text what you want to model, and Claude will then generate a real .skp file.
Among other things, Claude can:
constructing geometric shapes from basic shapes and curved surfaces;
Organize geometry into groups and components;
then deliver an actual SketchUp file (.skp).
So, in theory, you could say:
Create a 6 × 8-meter room with a 3-meter-high ceiling, install a 4-meter-long kitchen cabinet on the north side, build a 240 × 100-cm kitchen island, and place a dining table that seats six people.
And Claude can generate a SketchUp model of that.
There is, however, one important limitation at this time: Claude can create new .skp files using this connector, but it cannot open an existing .skp file and then modify or render it.
But this is a fundamental change. We're moving from:
draw → click → model
to more and more:
describe → AI generates a model → designer refines it.
3. AI Render: renders directly from your SketchUp model
SketchUp also has its own AI Render. This is a further development of what was previously known as SketchUp Diffusion.
You use your existing SketchUp view as a starting point and combine it with a prompt. SketchUp then generates a new AI visualization from it.
The interesting thing is that it can now do much more than just “turn this into a nice image.”
You can:
generate photorealistic renders;
set a style using prompts or presets;
determine how much freedom the AI has in relation to your SketchUp geometry;
use a reference image to achieve the desired look;
delete parts of the image;
regenerate specific areas;
drawing/sketching elements that AI then processes;
Reinsert the generated image as a scene in SketchUp.
That last point makes it interesting for design discussions: you can quickly show different directions using the same model without first having to set up a complete traditional rendering workflow.
AI Render currently costs 10 AI credits per generation; Generate Object costs 30 credits, and AI Help is free.
4. The interesting part is also outside of SketchUp itself
A whole new category of AI tools is now emerging that are directly integrated with SketchUp, eliminating the need to first export screenshots to Midjourney, Nano Banana, or other tools.
One important tool is Veras. It’s an AI visualization tool that works with your SketchUp model. In 2026, new features were added, such as reference images, which allow you to specify a particular material—such as a type of wood, stone, or fabric—as a visual reference. There’s also a new Smart Selection feature, which enables the AI to recognize objects or materials in a render so you can select and replace them specifically.
Another interesting option is D5 Lite for SketchUp. It runs directly within SketchUp and now combines AI-generated models with real-time rendering. The current version supports SketchUp 2026. D5 describes it as a single workflow in which you generate concepts using AI and can then immediately view lighting, materials, and assets in real time.
And there are now more generative AI extensions available in SketchUp's own Extension Warehouse, such as Spacely AI, which lets you create AI renders from a SketchUp model.
What I Think Is Most Important for Interior Designers
I think the most important thing is that, thanks to these developments, SketchUp is no longer just a 3D drawing program. With the latest AI integrations, you can generate 3D models from text and images, create renders in a matter of seconds, and make AI a direct part of your design workflow.
You can actually break down this development into four steps:
IDEA → 3D MODEL → VISUALIZATION → ADJUST
AI is now beginning to play a role in all four of these steps.
Midjourney and Nano Banana are fantastic for concept development and image editing, but SketchUp is now playing a much more prominent role in the process:
Claude → generates SketchUp geometry
Generate Object → Image or prompt becomes a 3D model
SketchUp AI Render → Model turns into a visualization in seconds
Veras / D5 → advanced AI visualization and real-time rendering
What exactly will we be doing in the Masterclass?
And that’s exactly why I’m organizing a SketchUp & AI Masterclass.
What exactly will we be doing in the Masterclass?
In the Masterclass, I’ll teach you how to combine SketchUp and AI to go from idea to 3D model and compelling visualization faster.
After 3 hours, you'll be able to:
convert a piece of furniture from an image into a usable 3D object;
Convert a SketchUp model into various interior visualizations in seconds;
Customize materials, ambiance, and styling using AI without having to remodel;
Integrating Midjourney and Nano Banana into your SketchUp workflow;
understand which AI tools actually save time and which are still largely experimental.
So the Masterclass isn’t limited to AI in SketchUp—I’ll also teach you how to work with tools like Midjourney and Nano Banana in conjunction with SketchUp.
Especially for those who decide quickly, I’m offering a great discount: 197 instead of 247 (excluding VAT), valid through August 30.
So sign up quickly for October 6, because my AI workshops always fill up fast.
I look forward to seeing you in Amsterdam on October 6, where we’ll have a fun and educational morning and get to connect with other interior designers.
Love, Marielle van Essen
SKETCHUP & AI MASTERCLASS.
On October 6 in Amsterdam from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Maximum of 10 participants.
