How to create a MOOD BOARD
A mood board can be an incentive and inspiration throughout a project. Anna Morley guides you through putting one together
There’s more than one way to skin a cat, as they say – and it’s a case in point when creating a mood board. Your style is unique to you, and so is this process. Your individual skills and preferred methods need to be harnessed to aid you in creating your ideal mood board. Below are some general tips and tricks to get you started on your very own scheme – which, we hope, will help you establish a firm foundation.
Q How exactly should I create my mood board?
A There are two ways. One is using physical items such as magazine tear sheets, perhaps with the addition of samples of tiles, fabric, paint, textiles, etc. This tactile approach is fun and feels almost childlike in its approach. The other is using digital imagery – taking pictures from the web of room sets, colours, specific finishes, accessories and furniture and curating a purely image-based board.
Q How specific or broad does it need to be?
A It depends on which stage of the process you’re at, but start broad with inspirations, then get more detailed as ideas come into focus.
Q What type of mood boards are there?
A When planning my loft space, I created several boards in order to drill down on my desired look. Here’s a few you could consider.
Inspirational mood boards focus on creating a feeling or vibe. Gather any images you love and are drawn to from any source – interior, garden or travel magazines, fabulous fabric, a hotel scheme you can’t get enough of, a picture of a cat with good fur – anything visual that speaks to you.
Planning mood boards that focus on the finishes, textures and paint combinations. Keep your scheme on track and coherent by looking at all the specific finishes. For example, in a bathroom scheme, include hardware, tiles, textiles and paint choices to see how these aspects sit alongside one another.
It’s often good to use real samples.
Design mood boards that focus on furniture and décor. Use to look at potential new furniture pieces and how they’ll work together. It’s also good to view with items you already own. Will they all complement one another?
Q How do I start building a mood board?
A Gather imagery or items and start combining them. Some items will reveal themselves as perfect bedfellows, while others will stick out like sore thumbs.
■ Start with one piece or image you love and build from there
■ Gather what you love over time
■ Establish a colour palette
■ Be detailed – include paints, textures, rugs, cushions, flooring, art, lighting and accessories
Q Where can I find inspiration for it from?
A Pretty much anywhere – including Real Homes magazine or online! Try Pinterest, Instagram, books, magazines, architecture, plants, favourite shops, your wardrobe, restaurants and hotels you love.
Q What online tools are there to gather my imagery?
A I always use Indesign for my mood boards (after a rifle through Pinterest) – but Keynote, Powerpoint, Google Slides, Photoshop, Word and Canva can all help to get your pictures in order.