Design
Written By Virginia Beshears
DESIGN
STORY BY VIRGINIA BESHEARS
A mood board is a powerful visual tool for interior design professionals and newbs alike, and the process of creating a mood board is an important and clarifying step in designing a space.
Whether you’re needing assistance with the technical side or the creative process, we’ve got you covered below with a complete guide to creating an interior design mood board.
VIA C. MANTOOTH HOME
What exactly is a mood board, and why is it helpful?
A mood board is a digital (or physical) compilation of elements that together communicate your intention for your interior design project.
They’re a wonderful tool for helping you narrow down and compile all your ideas into one vision. A mood board can also help you ensure that all your ideas contribute to a cohesive look and feel.
The creative part
Digging for inspiration is the first step to making your mood board. Collect a range of visuals that resonate with you. Don't limit yourself to one source—Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, blogs, magazines, online articles, paint swatches, fabric samples, and wallpaper samples are all great places to look.
If you’re stuck, here are some suggestions for elements to include:
Color palette (main paint color as well as accent colors)
A few pieces of furniture or decor items that represent style
Elements like flooring, tile, or countertops
Elements you already have and plan to use in your space
A few patterns or textures you love
Any images that communicate vibe or mood
Since one of the purposes of a mood board is to see which of your ideas work next to each other and look harmonious together, you shouldn’t spend a lot of time shopping for specifics yet. For example, the couch you put in your mood board doesn’t need to be the actual couch you end up using; it just needs to represent the general style you’re looking for. We’ll get into specifics later on.
VIA HAYDEN INTERIORS
VIA OLEXA HOME
The technical part
Start by saving all your images in a folder either on your computer or your phone, depending on where you’ll be working on your mood board.
Snap photos of any physical items to add to the folder. For items you already have, you can either take a photo yourself, or find one online.
Our recs for software
Remove.bg is an MVP of mood board creation. We highly recommend removing the background from every image you can, so you can layer elements and minimize visual clutter. Remove.bg automatically removes solid backgrounds, and also has a manual option so you can isolate what you want from an image with more than one element.
Canva is, unsurprisingly, our top rec for making mood boards. It’s extremely easy to use, and you can even use one of their pre-made mood board templates. It’s free to use, and there’s an app for anyone planning to make their mood board on their phone. The free version doesn’t include the remove background feature, so you’ll need to use remove.bg and import your transparent .png files.
If you want to go completely back to basics, Google Slides (or Powerpoint, if you have/prefer it) is probably the simplest, no-frills way to make a mood board. Here is a great video tutorial on making a mood board in Google Slides.
VIA THE NAVAGE PATCH
Mood board design tips
It can be helpful to select a central image or element that encapsulates the essence of your mood board. This focal point will serve as a reference and anchor for your overall design.
It might take a few tries for you to find the best layout. Organize your collected elements in a clear and logical manner. Group similar items together to create visual harmony and make it easier for others to understand your concept.
Less can often be more. Once you've assembled your mood board, review it critically. Remove any elements that don't contribute to your narrative or theme. A cluttered board can dilute your message.
Don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations of colors, materials, and styles. You can swap elements out as many times as you need to. Mood boards are a great way to explore various design options before finalizing your concept.
Next steps
Next, it’s time to bring your vision to life! Above, you can see an amazing example from the Southern Gail of a mood board and the final product.
One last note— these same software recs can be used to make a mockup of your space when you’re ready. A mockup is similar to a mood board, but usually mockups show your final selections for furniture, etc., in the arrangement they’ll be in the room. You can see some examples of mockups below. Mockups can range from being more creative interpretations to being exact 3D renderings.
Featured
4 Easy and Approachable Places to Start With Elevating Your Home’s Exterior
A lot of the info online about curb appeal is specifically for people getting ready to sell their homes, which isn’t necessarily helpful if you want to spruce up your house’s exterior just for your own enjoyment of your home. There are plenty of smaller tweaks you can make that will make a surprising difference to your home’s facade.
Read More →
Linda’s big renovation project has been eight years and two hurricanes in the making, and the result is absolutely incredible.
Read More →
DIY: How to Get the Most Bang for Your Buck in a Kitchen Reno
When it comes to maximizing the impact of your kitchen renovation without breaking the bank, few materials offer as much bang for your buck as paint. Kathleen’s finished kitchen is absolutely incredible, and it’s mind-blowing how much she was able to do with paint alone.
Read More →
ORC vet Samantha of Signed Samantha embarked on another room transformation this past fall ‘23 event, this time creating her home office 2.0. You may remember her gorgeous green home office from the fall ‘21 event—with a second child on the way, the need for a dedicated nursery meant saying goodbye to home office 1.0.
Read More →
How To Make Any Room Feel More Cozy
Have you ever stepped into a room and immediately felt a sense of warmth and comfort wash over you? It takes thoughtful design to make a space feel like a hug.
If you’re hankering for a little extra warmth in your space, here are just a few ways you can infuse a bit of coziness into any room of your home.
Read More →
How to Make Your DIY Paint Job Look Professional
When it comes to interior paint, even your very favorite shade won’t live up to expectations without a well-executed paint job.
Read More →
During the fall ‘22 ORC, Princess of Noire Motif tackled a gut renovation of her kids’ bathroom. Her goal was to create a bathroom that her kids would love, but that also felt mature enough to grow with them and eventually be used for guests once her kids have flown the coop.
Read More →
Check Out How ORC Participants Are Using Wovenbyrd in Their Projects
Furniture brand Wovenbyrd has been a One Room Challenge sponsor for more than five years now, and we are thrilled to have them on board Team ORC.
Read More →
Our 12 Favorite TV Shows for a Dose of Interior Design
If your watchlist is looking a bit sparse, whether you're a design enthusiast seeking fresh ideas or simply looking for some beautiful escapism, you’ve come to the right place.
Read More →
DIY: A Mudroom Transformation That Brings the Charm
Seasoned ORC vet Erin Zubot tackled a major mudroom overhaul during the Fall ‘22 event, during which she DIYed the most charming built-in storage bench. It looks incredible and is a vastly more efficient use of space.
Read More →
When Shawna and her husband purchased their house a decade ago, they had planned to turn the unfinished basem*nt into a playroom, but the arrival of their third child put the project on the backburner.
Read More →
2023 Recap: Biggest Interior Trends of the Year
The major theme we noticed last year was that ideas and styles trended while not necessarily being trendy. Micro-trends are out, and timeless design is in.
Read More →
2023 Recap: 14 Mind Blowing DIYs (That We Want to Try Next Year)
As we bid farewell to 2023, it's time to celebrate the hands-on creativity that not only left us genuinely awe-inspired, but are also getting our gears turning for next year. This year’s ORC participants showcased an abundance of talent that deserves a moment in the spotlight.
Read More →
2023 Recap: The 6 DIY Tools and Supplies We Used the Most This Year
As we wrap up the year, it's time to give credit where credit's due—the unsung heroes of our DIY endeavors. These six tools played a starring role in turning ideas into tangible creations this year.
Read More →
DIY: How to Completely Redo Your Powder Room 100% Solo
Adrian of Addy Does It achieved quite a feat by gutting her powder room and transforming it into this lavender gem, 100% DIY. The amount that she was able to accomplish is completely nuts, so buckle up.
Read More →
designresourcefeature 2
Virginia Beshears