The first step in every design process is the mood board…

Have you ever started a project and then halfway through begin to search and find OTHER things you’d like to do or buy for the space? Ever spontaneously purchase an armchair or a piece of art to only later bring it home and have no idea where to place them? This happens because the vision is lost or never planned prior to refreshing a space.

When I begin a new project or decide to renovate a room in my home, I always begin with a mood board. A mood board is simply a document that displays all the furniture, wall decor, colors, linens, or any other item you envision in your space. The purpose is to give you a quick glance at what the room WILL look like by having all the items you’ve picked out altogether on one screen.

But what’s the purpose? The goal of a mood board is to have a snapshot of what your space WILL look like with all the elements you dream to put into it. Looking at it beforehand can save you money, possible returns, and heartache. This one-step makes it so much easier to determine if the wood tones match or if you have chosen too many brass accents or not enough color for the space.

Canva or Canva Pro

I create my mood boards in Canva which is a free online graphic design tool. Canva allows you to upload photographs or product images and place them easily onto a “board.” You can quickly drag and drop to arrange your products either in a grid pattern or overlapping to resemble the arrangement of your space.

Canva offers several designs and features for free, but to be able to remove the background, you’ll need to purchase Canva Pro. I made the switch a year ago, and I can honestly say it is the most used purchase I have ever made.

How to Create a Mood Board in 4 Steps

Begin creating a design as an Instagram Post which gives a square board (1080 x 1080px).

Screenshot and upload product images of the items you want to purchase for your space. For example, I am creating a mood board for my dining room renovations so I’ll be uploading product images of the dining room table, chairs, light fixture, and even paint swatches.

Add your product images to your square board and use the Background Remover to only leave the product on the board. This will allow for a more realistic view of what your space will look like.

Arrange your product images and materials in either a grid pattern or as they would appear in your room. It’s completely a personal preference to either have an organized display or a more organic feel.