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ADVICE AND TIPS FROM OUR INTERIOR DESIGNERS ON HOW TO CREATE A MOOD BOARD AND WHEN TO USE ONE
Gather. Edit. Create.
MOOD BOARD MAKING
Whether your next project is redecorating a small room or adding an extension to your home, mood boards are a great tool to help you think and to get your creative juices flowing. We would like to share some advice and tips from our interior designers on how to create a mood board and when to use one for interior design scheming so that you can make the most of yours in your next home project.
What exactly is a mood board?
When you’re designing someone’s interior, you need somewhere to pull together all of your ideas — working ones and final. A mood board gives you that platform to collect and display all of the things that inspire the project and give it direction. It’s basically a very visual way to develop and shape a scheme, to help you picture how it’ll look when it all comes together.
First, decide what kind of mood board you want to create. Strictly speaking, a mood board is for pure inspiration and lifestyle aspiration. It’s more pictures and page tears from magazines, not just of interiors, but places you’ve been, restaurants you’ve eaten in and so on. It could be a photo that represents an activity that shows what you want the room to be used for and the atmosphere you want to create.
But, you can also create a sample board, which is a different thing. That’s where you get more selective on color, materials, and textures. On a sample board, you’ll start to figure out what finishes work best with the color palette you’ve chosen and which flooring sample you’re going to go with. It’s exactly as it sounds — somewhere to gather all of the samples you’ve decided on so you can really get a sense of the tone of the room.
At what point should I think about using one?
It needs to be early in the process, but how early is up to you. Some people think about their decorating ideas months, even years before the renovation work begins. So, you could start making a mood board then, right at the start of the ideas phase. It will give you somewhere to explore and process your thoughts, helping you with all of your decorating decisions.
How do I go about making a flat lay mood board?
There are lots of ways you can go about making a mood board. One of our favorites is an Instagram worthy method: the flat lay. This style of mood board’s all about gathering together objects to define your room’s style. Inspiration meets sample board.
Start with a couple of objects or photos you’re drawn to. It might be the color, the texture, or what it represents (like craftsmanship or travel and adventure) that appeals.
Then, layer in more pieces — including paint swatches, fabric swatches, and materials — to build on your look. Try different combinations and take a photo each time, so you can look back and decide what works best and visualize just how the finished scheme will turn out.
How do I go about making a Pinterest mood board?
Mood boards are one of the best tools to use to create a cohesive, considered look in your home. And there’s more than one way to make them. Pinterest is a wonderful way to gather inspiring images. Start with one photo that really grabs you; that has just the right atmosphere. Then, add more images that have the same feel — don’t overthink it at this stage, just pin away.
Take out any images you don’t completely love or that you feel at odds with. And, once you’ve done that, you should be able to see some patterns emerging. You’ll be able to pull out colors (or groups of shades, like teal blues or warm reds and oranges). And notice if there are any textures you’re drawn to — such as chalked oak or brass.
Keep referring back to your Pinterest board when you’re making decisions. And if anything feels that it won’t work with your board, you know not to include it in your room.
Searching for where to start?
LOVE IT? PIN IT! Looking for inspiration for that next great look of yours? Follow us on Pinterest for pin-worthy pics and ideas for your home.
Our Interior Design Service
Moodboards and sample boards are always an important part of how our interior designers come up with a scheme that’s unique to you and your style. It’s a service where we can decorate any (or all) of the rooms in your home for you.
To talk more about mood boards and designing the rooms in your home, speak to one of our designers about our interior design service.
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