If you’re new to the world of interior design, then you may be scratching your head when it comes to where to start. Before you pick up the paint brush, or struggle through the front door with your next flat-pack venture under your arm, it’s best to get some kind of plan together. When it comes to interior design, the ideal method for planning things out is to start collating a mood board. This acts as a visual representation of your initial ideas regarding your home — essentially, a mood board is a collage of images.
The purpose of these mood boards is to help explore those first set of ideas and figure out the general style, colours and mood of the space you hope to reinvent and make a great impression. Creating a visual plan helps you to not only put your ideas in one place, but also get a glimpse at how they may end up working together in a room.
Read on as we give you some tips and tricks on how to compose a mood board ahead of your interior design changes this summer.
1. Look at the bigger picture
There’s a lot to consider before you begin decorating. Take into account the overall ‘feel’ or mood that you’re hoping to create. For example, with summer around the corner, you may be looking for ways to open up your space and maximise any light that comes in from your windows. Collect paint swatches, play around with overlapping shades and don’t be afraid to experiment!
You also need to consider what you already have. An overhaul of the interior design of your home doesn’t necessarily mean throwing out everything you already own – you can pick out which pieces you want to keep and work from there. Then move on to the type of artwork you want to feature, as well as rugs and general accessories.
2. Identify your colour palette
For your designing palette, step one is to figure out your main colour. From there, you can find other colours that will complement the predominant shade, as well as perhaps an additional accent. Try to limit yourself to three colours within your mood board to ensure that all tones marry together nicely, and you don’t end up with a mismatched ensemble when you come to putting these ideas into action.
For summer this year, the go-to colours are on both ends of the spectrum. If your style is more vibrant, then get involved with shades of blue, reflecting the clear skies and crashing waves. You can complement this bold blue with more neutral tones such as beige, ivory and pale grey, pulling it all together and creating a beach hut vibe for this season.
3. Experiment with textures
Incorporating textures into your space is the perfect way to add interest, and create your own unique interior design. A quick and easy way to inject a sense of curiosity into your bedroom is through your bedding. If bright white is your preferred shade, it doesn’t need to be boring. Go for a textured Designers Guild luxurious bedding set, still in white, and you’ll notice a world of difference.
Collect samples where possible and include these in your mood board, as this will make it easier to see what will go together before you take the plunge. The easiest way to collate these varying textures is to use online resources and magazine clippings – don’t be afraid to take inspiration from others!
