Mood boards 101: How to create your own!

Creating a mood board can be a useful stage in the interior design journey. This method allows you to assemble your ideas and visualise concepts, notions, and elements intended for a specific space before weaving them into a cohesive design. Be it for your residence or workspace, creating a mood board can be an effective way to initialise your interior design.

What is a mood board?

Imagine a mood board as a canvas for your design vision. Like a kaleidoscope of inspiration, it’s a place to gather potential colours, tactile elements, and design components in one space, creating a vivid collage. This artistic ensemble presents a sneak peek of the envisioned final effect.

Each addition to the mood board, in form of a picture or text, will refer to different parts of the larger space. Put together on the board, they conjure up specific feelings or ideas, contributing to the “mood” you plan to create.

Mood boards can either be physical – captured on a conventional piece of cardboard, adorned with fabric, tile and board samples – or in digital form. Take a look at the mood board from Studio Gae Interior Design created specifically for this unique kitchen. On the right you can see the layout of the home with the kitchen we will be showcasing, and on the left are all the materials collaged to show how the elements could work together in the finished piece.

Studio Gae Interior Design chose PG Bison’s Caraz Peen Melawood and SupaGloss Napoca MelaWood for the kitchen cabinets to create this fresh, modern kitchen. The cabinetry perfectly complements the warm tones in the flooring and upholstery choices.

Nine steps to creating your own mood board

1. Gather inspiration: Begin by collecting images, magazine clippings, or online sources that inspire you. Look for space designs that resonate with your personal style and meet your functional requirements. These can include colour schemes, textures, patterns, materials, and overall design ideas. Other great resources are photographers’ websites, blogs, Pinterest and Instagram.
2. Determine the colour scheme: Colours play a significant role in setting the mood of a room. Consider the atmosphere you want to create in the space. Do you prefer a bright and vibrant space, a calm and neutral environment, or something in between? Start by selecting a few main colours and build your palette around them. Keep in mind how these colours blend with the rest of your home’s interior – are there practical considerations, such as flooring or splashbacks in the room? Do you need upholstery for furniture? How do you want to dress the window?
3. Choose the design style: Determine the overall design style you want to achieve in the space. It could be modern, farmhouse, minimalist, industrial, or any other style that appeals to you. Look for furniture, accessories, and finishes that align with your chosen style and incorporate them into your mood board.
4. Picture the layout: Consider the layout and flow of your space. If it is a kitchen, determine if you require any specific features, such as a kitchen island, open shelves, or a breakfast nook. Integrate these elements into your mood board to visualise how they will fit into your overall design.
5. Play with textures and materials: To bring depth and interest to your kitchen, experiment with different textures and materials. Consider using PG Bison’s MelaWood range in SupaMatt, SupaTexture and SupaGloss finishes, Formica LifeSeal Tops, tiles, or metallic accents. Incorporate these materials into your mood board to get a sense of how they complement each other.
6. Consider lighting: Lighting is an essential aspect of any interior space. Think about the type of lighting fixtures that will enhance both the functionality and aesthetics of the room. Include images of different lighting options in your mood board to assess their overall impact.
7. Add personal touches: The room should reflect your personal style and taste. Include elements that make it unique to you and your family. This could be artwork, family photos, kitchen gadgets, or any other personal touches.
8. Arrange the mood board: Once you have gathered all the images, materials, and concepts, arrange them on a large poster board or a digital mood board platform. It should be visually appealing and easy to understand. Play around with the arrangement until you are satisfied with the overall composition.
9. Keep it flexible: Remember, a mood board is a creative tool that allows you to experiment and make changes. Don’t be afraid to revise and refine your ideas as you go along. It’s a collaborative process that eventually leads to a well-executed design.

Mood boards are a powerful tool to help you to express and communicate your creative vision, and also give you insight into what the final product will look and feel like – then at least when you are buying materials, you can have some assurance that they will all work together. So go ahead and start gathering ideas, let your creativity flow, and bring your dream kitchen to life!

Once you’re ready to get designing, you can try out the free online PG Bison Kitchen Design Tool.