Spotting a gorgeous piece of furniture on the likes of Pinterest, or Instagram, only to realise it is impossible to find in the real world is a frustrating interior design roadblock. The endless search can easily turn home styling into a real chore that's more frustrating than fun.

That’s where Shop Home Styles comes in. Backed by Fuel Ventures, this innovative platform uses AI to eliminate the traditional keyword search and hours of scrolling. Just by uploading a screenshot or image of the design inspiration, users can instantly track down the exact product, or very similar ones within budget, cutting out all the unnecessary sleuthing.

From Pinterest saves and Instagram posts to camera roll photographs and mood boards, the platform's AI functions by examining the uploaded image, dissecting it by shape, material, colour, and texture. It will then apply these to the search and generate a range of accurate matches, visually, from a wide selection of stores, reports the Mirror.

Essentially, rather than relying on guesswork and typing descriptions like 'green modular sofa' or 'wiggle lamp' into a search bar, shoppers can begin with exact design inspiration to get accurate matches.

By bringing together products from over 100 major UK and US homeware brands, Shop Home Styles simplifies the comparison and browsing process into one seamless experience.

As founder Giedre Gabrenaite explains, the core issue for consumers isn't a shortage of online furniture options, but the sheer difficulty of tracking down the right one.

"We built ShopHomeStyles to close the gap between inspiration and purchase, helping people discover the products they actually want, not just the products that happen to rank highest in search results."

Having personally put it through its paces - as a passionate home décor enthusiast - it is remarkably straightforward to navigate and the results it generates are impressively accurate. Brands featured include the likes of Anthropologie, Wilko, Furniture123, Emma, Ruggable, Wolf and Badger, Living and Home, Secret Linen, Vonhaus, Dunelm, Marks and Spencer and more.

Beyond finding direct matches for the uploaded photo, the search engine also offers fresh inspiration for alternative design elements. The tool accommodates home buys of all sizes, helping decor fans track down smaller accents like tableware, cutlery, and kitchen storage bottles - such as a distinctive Fenwick mug, Graham and Green beaded coasters, or a Heal’s Nova design cushion.

When it comes to major furniture investments, the platform covers every room in the home. Shoppers can seamlessly source larger statement pieces, like this green Dunelm three-seater sofa, a blush pink Art Deco king-size bed frame, or its striking Graham and Green Ikat pouffe.

For instance, I have been searching for an alternative to my dream Oliver Bonas bedspread (the Patchwork Star Multicolour Velvet Quilt), whose velvet finish, vibrant colours and luxurious feel would really add to my space. However, it retails at £165 and remains a purchase I cannot quite justify at the moment.

I uploaded a picture of said bedspread from Pinterest and Shop Homes Styles presented me with a variety of options that both surpassed this price point - the stunning Iluka Printed Quilted Bedspread from Anthropologie, £148; the Glassette Stella Quilted 100% Cotton Bedspread from Secret Linen, £149 (though currently reduced to £119.20) - as well as more budget-friendly alternatives. These included the Catherine Lansfield Autumn Patchwork Geometric Bedspread from Dunelm, priced at £35, which boasts a comparable geometric design with green and orange colourful accents.

It also directed me towards Anthropologie's eye-catching £78 Two-Way Printed Quilted Throw Blanket, which features a playful checkered pattern adorned with blue, pink, green and cream tones. The website also enables users to - once the image has been uploaded - refine their results by selecting brands, price thresholds and colour options.

That said, one personal suggestion for improvement would be the inclusion of few more budget-friendly UK-based brands, rather than leaning towards premium, luxury names. Labels such as Oliver Bonas, H&M Home, Dusk, Habitat and La Redoute - to name but a few - would make a welcome addition.

Though that is perhaps being rather particular.

For shoppers who don't have a specific inspiration photo to hand, the Shop Home Styles site also offers the option to simply browse through its product range. Categories span everything from room types to individual items such as lights, snuggle chairs, bedspreads and much more.

This is not entirely unlike the likes of Wayfair, which - alongside its own-brand products - stocks items from names such as B&M, Bedsure, Simba, Ninja, Le Creuset, Furniture Box and beyond.

Once shoppers have tracked down their ideal furniture piece on Shop Home Styles, they can then be directed straight to the brand's website to complete their purchase and enjoy the thrill of their new find.