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How to create a mood board for your next home décor project

Whether you’re ready for a change, moving into a new house or just itching for a trip to IKEA, updating your décor is an exciting prospect.

However, with endless creative roads to go down (geometric or plain? Minimalist or eclectic?), it can be a little tricky to know where to begin. In some cases, people turn to the expertise of an interior designer to guide their vision – but that can be quite expensive.

Luckily, there are ways you can make a décor mood board at home and, best of all, it doesn’t cost you a penny. To find out how to make a mood board, and take one step closer to your dream home, continue reading below.

Find your inspiration

A blue interior design mood board

Every home interiors project starts the same: with a spark of inspiration.

And before you start knitting your eyebrows together in creative angst, it doesn’t need to feel like a chore. In fact, many of the best home décor ideas happen at random while watching television, wandering through an art gallery or even having a coffee at a neighbour’s house.

Once you have that “eureka” moment, of course, make a note and think of how you would visualise this. For many, online platforms, such as Pinterest and Instagram, are a handy space for finding inspiring images and noting creative ideas.

Elsewhere, you might want to search through the many, many influencers and interior design blogs that populate these websites. Found your favourites? Bookmark the stand-out themes that catch your eye.

Get creative

Now your mind is abuzz with images of floral scatter cushions and funky lamp shades, it’s time to get all your thoughts down on paper.

As a jumping-off point for your mood board, pick a base colour that will define your project. This can either be an already established hue or a potential paint job. From there, you can compare and contrast the different colours, textures and accessories against this backdrop.

And don’t worry if your mood board is looking a little rudimentary at this stage – this phase is all about experimentation, so don’t stress if your theme isn’t shining through just yet.

Refine your style

A yellow interior design mood board

While you might have fallen head over heels for various lampshades during your Pinterest perusing, you can’t squeeze them all into your living room so it’s time to make a decision. This marks the next step of the mood board process, and perhaps the most difficult; removing beloved ideas that, well, just don’t work.

To refine your style and keep you from second-guessing yourself, establish a theme and stick to it. Whether you opt for vintage, rustic or Scandinavian minimalism, using a consistent aesthetic will help you identify the most obvious outliers in your chosen décor.

Just remember, interior design is all about telling the story of your home. The last thing you want is a motley of half-baked ideas that just don’t mesh and doesn’t ‘flow’, so try and keep your mood board true to its chosen theme throughout.

TOP TIP: Don’t forget to consider your existing furniture when pulling together your mood board. Sofas, rugs, and curtains, for instance, should synchronise with your mood board décor just as much as any new accent pieces.

Now you know how to create a mood board, the next step is to get inspired. And there’s no better place to start the creative journey than with Plumbs’ very own collection of fabrics. Boasting more than 800 different designs for reupholstery, sofa covers and made to measure curtains, which design will you choose?

Sophie Page
Sophie Page

Sophie is a great granddaughter of the founders of the business - so fabrics and furniture are almost part of her DNA! Her interests include home interiors and upcycling, and her favourite show to watch after work is The Repair Shop. Some of the topics she covers on the Plumbs blog include sofa reupholstery and furniture protection.

UK-wide service
UK-wide service
Family business
Family business
Made-to-measure
Made-to-measure
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Free in-home consultation
Over 800 fabrics
Over 800 fabrics
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Quality guarantee

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