Interior mood board ideas for your new space.
Dreaming of perfect interiors but don’t know where to start? We all want to start a new interior project, but need the right inspiration and organization to do it. There are just so many things to consider right from the correct color palette to making sure that each room fits the mood that you’ve set out for it.
The best way to go forward is by creating a mood board. It’s a great way to visualize what you want and to also experiment with your thought process before actual execution. Even professional interior designers use mood boards to spruce up their client’s space.
Visualization is also an important process because you can note down exactly what you need to get and the scale of your project. If you’re just going to give slight touch-ups such as changing your decorative items or adding more greenery, then it’s fine to do it on your own. Either way, a mood board can help you decide.
So how can you create an interior mood board?
When you first start your mood board it might just seem like an endless list of random pictures put in one place. But as you keep selecting the things you like, you’ll notice that there are similarities and that your taste is actually consistent. Mood boards streamline your thought process and help you edit your ideas and make them into something doable.
Before embarking on your mood board, it’s good to have at least some idea of what you’re looking for such as:
- The room you’re looking to renovate or your whole house at large.
- The color scheme of the desired renovation.
- Themes. These depend on the mood you’re trying to emulate in each room.
- Budget. There’s no point creating a fancy mood board if it’s out of your budget.
Step 1
What’s your mood board method?
What’s your mood board going to be like? Digital or physical?
A physical mood board is literally a board pinned with things you love such as printed pictures, paint chips, textiles, and more. Once you put everything together in one place, you can connect the dots and figure out what you’d like for your place. However, this method could be extremely time-consuming as you won’t know where to source everything you’re looking for. For example, if you like a specific shade, and you don’t find its paint chip, it could prove to be troublesome.
Digital mood boards are even better. Using programs such as Canva, Adobe Photoshop, or even Pinterest can help you place elements in your mood board. You can edit this at any time, and you don’t even waste printed paper. Moreover, if you’re looking for certain colors or items, you can just search for the image online.
Step 2
Get inspired
Your mood board needs to have a certain theme and for that you need inspiration. It’s not only about interior design but about yourself, those around you, and the things you love. If you’re working on a digital mood board, using platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram, or websites for interior design is a great place to start finding things you love and putting them in one place. Another great resource is actual online websites where you can find furniture.
In case you want to go for a more practical approach, try searching for something that inspires you. It could be anything from a vintage piece to a comic you like. Then, find samples of wallpaper, tiles, textiles, and more around this and place them in your mood board. It’s a great place to start, and as you soon start seeing a pattern emerge, you can make it work.
Step 3
Shift things around
Your first draft isn’t the final one. Even if you create a mood board at first, but it just doesn’t click, you can shift stuff around. You need to have that “Aha, this is perfect” moment before starting to source items. Also, some sections of the mood board need to be given more priority than others.
For example, the color of paint on your walls will take a large portion of your mood board while plants might take a much smaller position. Elements such as sheets and cushion covers come halfway as they are important accents. In any case, the more important the element, the more time and effort you should dedicate to it. If things don’t end up fitting, the best thing you can do is change up the design.
Step 4
Get a third persons’ perspective
While you’re in the zone, trying to do what’s best for your space, you might not be looking at the finer details. Maybe pink’s your favorite color and everything in your mood board’s become far too matchy. In such a situation, ask a friend or family member to help out. With their neutral opinion, you can check if there are any faults in your mood board and if you can implement any fresh ideas. Of course, at the end of the day, it’s your project, and you don’t have to listen to anyone but yourself, but a new eye does help.
Step 5
Validate your design decisions
Once your mood board is in place, it’s time to start executing it. Print out your mood board or keep a digital version with you at all times as you start hunting for new items. This mood board is your guide to buying the best things for your space.
If you spot anything you like in the shop, compare it with your choices in your mood board, and only then make a purchase. Better yet, and if allowed by the shop, you can take a picture of the furniture or decorative piece and make a replica mood board out of the things you’ve selected to see if they match. If you’re shopping online, even better, as you can simply save the images.
With a plan in hand, your dream room is not far away at all!
You’re super close to the perfect interior mood board!
Remember, before starting any interior renovation project, a mood board is vital. It serves as your guide and source of inspiration, and the outcome of your room will be like you wanted it. In case you require the help of professionals, especially for repainting, don’t hesitate to reach out to experts at Octopus.
