Whether you are working on a whole home design or exploring just one room design, putting together a mood board is the perfect way to test the waters for the design you have envisioned.

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Why create a mood board? What purpose do they serve?

A mood board is a perfect way to convey a design concept or idea. It can include a variety of items such as colours palettes, photos, illustrations, fonts, or textures that articulate the direction for your project.

In simpler words, a mood board is also an inspiration board. Whether you are a home-owner starting on a project, or a pro in the field, creating a mood board or style board is definitely a beneficial tool in the field. You get to choose whether to create one in digital or physical form.

Mood boards can serve several main functions:

  1. They can inspire or provide a direction to draw inspiration from
  2. Better display an idea or thought to others
  3. Provide a basis for maiking selections to fit the overall scheme
  4. Avoid making costly mistakes

Mood boards are usually used in the early stages of a design project. It helps the creator or designer concentrate their ideas or visualization on numerous elements placed together. It is also a simpler way to help visually communicate their ideas with clarity.

Why is a Mood Board Important?

A mood board can serve numerous purposes, beginning with organizing a project’s inspiration or concept.  In this case, we began our room design around a rug. When you don’t know where to begin, this is a great way to develop a colour palette and the mood for your room. It is also a valuable tool to maintain the aesthetic that keeps aligned with clients or designers objectives and desires. They’re moreover a great way to refine a project’s style before jumping into the real plan. By comparing all of the elements together in one space, you can avoid making a purchase that won’t fit the overall design direction.

How to Create a Mood Board

There aren’t any strict rules on creating a mood board as they all have individualized meaning. Aforementioned, the purpose is to portray your ideas, concepts or to set the “mood”. Depending on the situation, creating one is a great way to communicate your ideas to others.

Here are three tips on creating a mood board:

  1. Choose your theme, style, or mood: Start with establishing your aesthetic and goals. Before moving forward, look for images, colours, textures, fonts, materials that inspire and convey your ideas.
  2. Look for inspiration: This can stem from simply going on a walk, talking to friends, or going to a local design centre or furniture store. When you spot something that interests you, take a picture; you do not have to be a professional photographer to capture your ideas. Or you can use online platforms such as: Pinterest, Youtube, Google Images, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok and more. IF you are selecting specific products or pieces of furniture, you can usually clip the image directly from the supplier’s website to see how it will look in your collection.
  3. Choose the medium to present your ideas: Showcasing your moodboard could be in digital or physical form. Digital mood boards are easier to set up while having a physical copy requires an actual collection to place together. As a designer having a physical mood board is beneficial as it showcases different fabrics and textures that may look better (or not) compared to a digital copy.

The initial stages of creating a moodboard are all about having fun and experimenting with different collections that inspire the designer or client. During those stages you find out what works harmoniously or identify some things that do not fit together.

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Pros and Cons of Digital & Physical Moodboards

Digital Mood Board

Pros

  • Easy to set up: easily browse through the internet
  • Can easily share with someone remotely
  • Many online mood board generating tools: Canva, Sampleboard, Miro, Milanote
  • Easy to Revise: can change ideas and elements with one click

Cons:

  • What you see online may not look the same as it does in person. Colours and textures can differ in real life
  • Does not showcase the reality of the concept or idea (use of materials, textures and more)

Physical Moodboards

Pros:

  • Can include samples of the actual fabrics, textures, swatches that could be displayed on large piece of foamcore.
  • Conveys an accurate and realistic vision of design concept or idea
  • Because they present real material samples, colours and textures are accurate

Cons:

  • Time consuming: need to collect various items that may not be found in one place
  • Harder to revise
  • Bulky to store

Finalizing a mood board clarifies the official direction for your design or concept. Just remember to have fun during the design process! There are no strict rules with designing a moodboard.

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My standard disclaimer: Please note, some of these items may be offered through affiliate links which means I could get a small commission if you order. That will never influence what I find lovely and want to share with you. I always offer suggestions I would buy for my home or recommend to a client. Also, rest assured it won’t affect the price you would otherwise pay.