Embarking on a home renovation or interior design project is an exciting journey, but it can also be overwhelming with so many ideas, styles, and choices to consider. That’s where a mood board comes in handy. A mood board is a visual tool that helps you clarify your design vision, gather inspiration, and make cohesive choices for your project. In this blog post, I will walk you through the steps to create an effective mood board for your home renovation or interior design project and the tools I use to get them done. You will also see a variety of mood boards that I have created for past projects I have put together.
Step 1: Define Your Project Goals and Style
Before you dive into creating your mood board, it’s essential to establish clear project goals and define your desired style. Consider the following questions:
- What is the purpose of the room or space you’re renovating?
- What are your functional requirements and must-haves?
- Do you prefer a specific design style, such as contemporary, farmhouse, or eclectic?
- What color scheme and mood are you aiming for?
These answers will serve as your foundation when curating images and elements for your mood board.
Step 2: Gather Inspiration
Start collecting inspiration from various sources. Here’s where you can find ideas:
- Pinterest: Pinterest is a goldmine for interior design inspiration. Create a board for your project and pin images that resonate with your vision. After you collect images, you can then look at them as a whole to see what the common colors and features are.
- Magazines: Interior design magazines are packed with beautiful photos and ideas. Browse here for inspiration.
- Online Design Blogs: Follow interior design blogs and websites that align with your style. Taking little pieces of designs and making them your own is a great starting point.
- Instagram: Follow interior designers, architects, and home decor accounts on Instagram for real-life inspiration. Many times they can lead to a blog post or have highlight bubbles on just how they completed certain projects you love!
As you gather these ideas, pay attention to recurring themes, color schemes, and design elements that catch your eye. From their you can narrow down what design you should go with.
Step 3: Select Visual Elements
Now, it’s time to create your mood board. You can use physical tools like a corkboard, foam board, or poster board, or digital platforms like Canva or Adobe Spark. Here’s what to include:
- Images: Print or save pictures from your inspiration sources. Select images that reflect the color palette, textures, and furniture styles you envision for your space.
- Color Swatches: Include paint chips, fabric samples, or color swatches to represent your chosen color scheme.
- Textures: Add texture samples like fabric, wood, or tile to convey the tactile elements of your design.
- Furniture and Accessories: Include pictures or sketches of furniture, lighting fixtures, and accessories that you plan to use.
Ensure that the visual elements you select are cohesive and represent the mood and style you aim to achieve. Putting them all on one board will allow you to see if everything flows well together!
My preferred method is Canva! I use this app almost daily and I have a very easy and quick video tutorial on how I create mine here!
Here you can watch how I made this mood board for a little girls room.
Step 4: Organize and Arrange
Arrange the elements on your mood board in a visually pleasing and logical manner. You can experiment with different layouts until you find one that feels right. Group similar elements together and create a flow that tells a story about your design vision. It is best to do this frustrating part first to make it look right before actually buying the items and then trying to see how they will fit together in one cohesive space.
Step 5: Revise and Refine
Take a step back and review your mood board. Does it accurately represent your vision and goals? Are there any elements that don’t fit or need adjustment? Don’t hesitate to make changes until you’re satisfied with the overall look and feel. It also is a great way to get excited about achieving the end result!
Step 6: Share and Collaborate
If you’re working with an interior designer or a partner, share your mood board with them. It can serve as a visual reference for discussions and collaboration, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. If you are doing the work yourself, next step is to source the actual products that fit your price point. It is really nice just to gather the looks at first when creating the mood board and then going about figuring out how to find all the items that look the same. The mood board is just a guide to keep you on track and not sway from your design and the end results will show it!
Below is a SNEAK PEEK of my latest creation for my upcoming front porch project! I plan to get smaller furniture to open the space up and build a bench/planter that can house our fire wood for the coming winter! I will possibly update the front door and get ready for the holidays. During this project I will be building out a bench that can hold my fire wood and building a planter off to the right side of it to house a plant. I plan to possibly DIY the side table and table top fire feature as well!
Creating a mood board is an essential step in the journey of a home renovation or interior design project. It’s a powerful tool for visualizing your design vision, staying focused on your goals, and making informed decisions. By carefully curating images, colors, textures, and elements that resonate with your style, you’ll be well-prepared to bring your dream space to life. Happy designing!
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