How To Create A Mood Board For Interior Design: The Art of Atmosphere

When it comes to decorating a home, you want something that feels like a representation of who you are. Colors? Totally you. Decor? Of course, you would have that. Furniture? It just makes sense here. THESE are the vibes we’re going for, right? Plus, there’s something so empowering about designing a space that reflects your personality, energy, and overall personal style. 

But let’s be real: starting is the hardest part. Your Pinterest boards are overflowing, you have 101 tabs open, you’re completely overwhelmed, and now it feels like a task and not a fun project. Don’t let those hopes and dreams fade away just yet—get busy and create a mood board! 

Mood boards are ESSENTIAL for laying out clear goals, staying focused, and keeping the vision alive. That’s why today, we’re sharing a guide on everything you need to know about creating, maintaining, and fulfilling all of your mood board dreams. This process is supposed to be fun, don’t get lost in the chaos!

How To Create A Mood Board For Interior Design: The Art of Atmosphere

Maybe you’ve never heard of a mood board, and we’ve piqued your interest. Or, maybe you have elements of your mood board laid out but have no idea how to organize it all. In either case, we’re here to help. From how to plan an Instagram aesthetic to how to make a fashion mood board, we know a thing or two about taking the process from overwhelming to organized.

Planning and visualizing your goals has never been easier, and we’ll show you exactly what we mean in a sec. First, you probably have a few questions, like what even are mood boards? What’s their purpose? And what materials or tricks do you need to make it successful? Don’t worry, we came prepared. Let’s start with the basics, and then we’ll get into the fun stuff.

What Is A Mood Board For Interior Design?

Think of a mood board for interior design as your space’s mood ring. The colors, patterns, furniture pieces, and decor allll change depending on how you’re feeling. Do you like black and edgy? Bold and colorful? Minimalistic and sleek? Your mood board should show that! The ultimate goal is to curate a giant visual representation of things, colors, furniture pieces, and images that look and feel like you. Want more on why this process is so important? Check out this episode of House Guest. 

This design process isn’t just great for organizing your thoughts, though. It also allows you to see how well your vision blends together before you make expensive decisions you may regret. (Been there, done that, have the receipt to prove it.) Plus, planning out your ideas and bringing them to life is FUN! There are so many ways you can customize the process. Create a physical mood board with cut-outs and swatches, or hop on Canva or Pinterest to design it digitally! Or honestly, do a little bit of both—you never know when, where, and how inspiration will strike.

No matter what your approach is, the first step is understanding WHY you need to jump on the mood board bandwagon. Get ready to stay focused, feel inspired, and create the space of your dreams. Struggling in that “sit down and focus” mentality? Tune into this episode of Life with Marianna.

What Is The Purpose Of A Mood Board For Interior Design?

Clarifies Your Vision

Most of us have an idea of what we want, but we don’t have all the pieces to the puzzle. When you create an interior design mood board, you’re basically taking all of those ideas swirling around in your head and breathing life into them. 

You get to watch your style and ideas actually take shape, not just live in your imagination forever. This means that you’re no longer guessing what MIGHT look good together, you actually get to see it.

This episode of She’s So Lucky tells us why it’s important to truly follow mood boards. (Both in interior design and in everything else.)

Keeps You Focused

There are soooo many fun ideas out there, which makes things tricky! You may LOVE the coastal-themed bungalow vibe, but see an industrial-styled living room on Pinterest and wanna completely change directions. Getting sidetracked is normal, but it can really disrupt that creative design process flow. 

A mood board basically acts as a filter. It reminds you of your ultimate goal, so you don’t lose your vision mid-design project and scrap the whole thing. It also realllyyy comes in handy when it’s time to budget and make intentional purchases.

Simplifies Decision-Making

If you’re like us, you definitely have at least 20 pictures of random rugs in your photos RIGHT NOW. And why wouldn’t you, right? You have to go home, compare and contrast options, and decide on what fits your aesthetic the best. But, good news! A mood board eliminates indecisiveness and helps you nail down a decision.

With a mood board, you’ve already set the tone for your space. You know what colors, fabrics, styles, and patterns you want. So, even if you’re mid-shopping spree and have one of those “I have to get this rug” moments, you already know whether or not it will fit into your space. It removes the guesswork and gives you that “this is it” confidence. 

For more on why self-assurance is the key to success, check out: “Why is Confidence Important?”

Communicates Your Style

If nobody has told you this, you don’t have to have just ONE style. That’s the fun of creating a mood board! It takes all of your wants, wishes, and desires, and blends them into one big “this is me” visualization. 

Whether you’re working with a designer, shopping with a partner, or bouncing ideas around in a group chat, a mood board gives others a clear picture of your style. No more of that “Cozy but kinda industrial and sort of vintage but also has that farmhouse vibe.” The board speaks for itself.

Sparks Creativity

If you’ve fallen into a creative rut before, you already know how frustrating it can be. But when you have an interior design mood board, it’s like a gentle nudge in the right direction. As you pull together images and ideas, you might find styles you love but have never even thought about before.

Like… who knew teal looks fantastic with pink??? Not us if it weren’t for mood boards. It’s a fun and low-pressure way to explore your style before making a commitment. And honestly, the more you explore, the more inspired you feel.

If you really want to bring your creative A-game, check out: “How to Write Manifestations to Unlock Your Best Life.” Because, yes, manifesting works for everything—even creative ruts. 

What To Include In A Mood Board For Interior Design

Whether you’re creating a digital mood board or going totally old-school, there are a few must-haves that need to make it into your planning process. Here’s a list of things you need to include in your interior design mood board for ultimate inspiration. 

• Color Palette: Decide on your color schemes and stick to them. This includes core colors and accent shades. 
• Furniture Inspo: Think: chairs, couches, tables, beds, dressers, nightstands… You get it. 
• Textures and Materials: Don’t skip over the importance of textures. Between wood, metal, velvet, silk, linen, rattan, marble (we’ll stop here), you have a lot to choose from. 
• Decor Pieces: These are what will MAKE your space. Consider rugs, vases, mirrors, candles, art, books, curtains, blankets, baskets—need we go on?
• Lighting: Lighting. Is. EVERYTHING. We’re talkin’ lamps, light strips, scones, overhead fixtures, anything that adds to the ambiance. 
• Flooring Ideas: You need to think about what flooring and which types of rugs you want to amplify your space. 
• Wall Treatments: Look at paint colors, wallpapers, and paneling to figure out what will complement your space the most. 
• Layout Inspo: The way you position your furniture is super important. Create different layouts choose your favorite. 
• Mood Imagery: Are you into that cozy cabin atmosphere? Or do you prefer dopamine decor? Think about the vibe you wanna give off and work with it. 

How To Create A Mood Board For Interior Design

• Step 1: Define your vibe. Before you do anything, make sure you know what you want your space to feel like. Think of it like: “When I have friends and family over, what’s the vibe I wanna give off?”

• Step 2: Gather inspo. Head to social media platforms (or your camera roll) and start saving things that catch your eye. And don’t overthink it! You can go through and remove anything that doesn’t connect with you later on. 

• Step 3: Choose a color palette. If you haven’t yet decided on a color palette, now’s the time to do so. Pick 4-6 colors that reflect the overall mood you’re going for. Paint, textiles, wallpapers, fabric colors, tiles—anything. 

• Step 4: Select important elements. Once you’ve got your basics figured out, it’s time to start nailing down furniture and decor. Think of these pieces as the “anchors” of your design—they set the standard for the entire room.

• Step 5: Don’t forget textures and materials. As you’re planning, also be thinking about textures. Couch textures, curtain fabrics, and accent decor materials all play a big role in how layered your space is.

• Step 6: Put everything together. You can definitely use the printing and pasting method if that’s what you’re feeling. But, to streamline the process, we recommend the drag-and-drop method. (AKA, get on Canva and lay everything out.) Arrange everything in a way that feels balanced and aesthetically pleasing so you get the full picture. 

• Step 7: Add imagery. Add lifestyle images (reading nooks, cozy corners, lots of plants), to match the feeling you want. It’s allll about creating good vibes here.

• Step 8: Review and refine. Once you’re done, step back and look at the final product. Love it? Perfect. Unsure? Tweak it until it’s just right.

Interior Design Mood Board Examples

Dopamine Decor

If you love bright colors and funky patterns, dopamine decor is made for you. If you’re like “What IS dopamine decor?”, you’re not alone—it’s a relatively new and trendy style. Ultimately, it’s all about creating a space that sparks joy as soon as you step in the door. Think: disco balls to reflect light, acrylic coffee tables, fun colored rugs—everything that feels like it wouldn’t make sense but looks soooo good together. 

It’s less about rules here and more about what feels good. If you love the way a pink velvet armchair looks with an orange leather couch, GO FOR IT! That’s what it’s all about.

Effortlessly Minimalistic

For those who love simple styles, clean lines, and neutral-colored decor, we bet you’re creating a minimalistic mood board. This style really emphasizes high-quality basics and open spaces. Like, will you be buying an expensive, huge white sectional? Absolutely. But will it be the focal point of your space, surrounded by barely-there furniture and minimal decor? 100%. 

It’s not about taking the “less is more” approach—consider this style as “less is better.” No clutter, no chaos, just lots of room to relax and unwind. 

Urban Meets Industrial

Going for that edgy-but-inviting vibe? An industrial urban mood board is calling your name. This style is especially beneficial for those living in lofts and apartments. Or honestly, anyone who feels inspired by that city-living energy.

Expect moody tones, lots of leather, reclaimed wood, and spaces that know how to make a statement. It’s like form meets function in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible. 

What’re you waiting for? Start your interior design mood board and bring your dream space to life!

Revamping a space can feel like a true challenge—there are so many designs, vibes, and feelings to work with! But honestly, if not now, then when??? Don’t let the stress stop you from turning those dream vibes into real-life spaces! Create a mood board, get inspired, and transform your space into everything you’ve ever wanted.

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