How to Create the Perfect Mood Board for Your Dream Space

How to Create the Perfect Mood Board for Your Dream Space

Mood boards are my go-to tool when I’m dreaming up a new space. Whether I’m pulling together outfit inspiration, makeup ideas, or creating a vision for my living room, mood boards help me organize my thoughts and make my ideas feel real. The best part? They’re fun, easy, and totally customizable to your unique style. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start with designing a space, a mood board can be your creative sidekick. Here’s how you can dive in and create the perfect one!

Define Your Vision

Ask yourself: What do I want this space to feel like? Think about the mood you want to create: Should the space feel cozy, bold, or elegant? Jot down words that capture your vision—even if they seem random!

Here’s an example from when I started designing my living room: peacock blue, energetic, rock n roll, personal, bold, grunge.

Gather Inspiration

Inspiration can be found anywhere you look, so do whatever works best for you. If I’ve got the free time and I’m feeling crafty, I might spend hours looking through old magazines, cutting up images that resonate with me, and gluing them onto a board. But realistically, with my busy schedule, I tend to stick to online platforms like Instagram and, my favorite for this purpose, Pinterest.

Focus on Key Elements

To keep your mood board cohesive, divide it into categories. Recently, Pinterest added a feature where you can add folders inside each board to better categorize. For example, my friend Emma has her wedding board broken up into sections like “wedding dress,” “wedding ring,” and “color scheme.” She’s a genius for figuring that out, honestly. 

When it comes to categorizing for interior design goals, do what makes the most sense to you! For me personally, this is how I like to break it up:

Color

You might go into this with a particular color or color scheme in mind. Maybe you really like yellow because it livens up the room, or maybe you’re more into beige neutrals for that chic but simple look. Use this category to incorporate paint swatches, fabric samples, and example photos of setups that inspire you. If you haven’t gotten that far, that’s okay too! Take a look at the pictures you’ve pinned, saved, or collected and try to determine if they have a recurring color scheme you can pull from.

Texture

Think about rugs, upholstery, curtains, or throws that add depth and interest. If you’re able to, stop by Rug & Home to get an idea of the textures you like (we have so many samples to choose from… seriously)! Beyond enjoying how your space looks, you also want to make sure you’re incorporating textures you enjoy touching and living with every day.

Rugs and Furniture

Once you’ve got a good grasp on the colors and textures you like, think about those showstopping and reliable pieces that make the room. Based on your research so far, you might be compelled to include a sleek leather armchair, a coffee table that won’t draw attention, or—if you’re like me—a colorful abstract rug to build the room around. 

Décor

To me, décor comes as the final step. You can use it as a way to incorporate pops of color, tie in the space, or personalize the room. Think artwork, vases, mirrors, lighting fixtures, and whatever details you can think of to make your space personal and complete. Ultimately, décor is what will tie your room together and make your mood board complete. 

Share and Collaborate

Mood boards don’t have to be solo projects—they’re great for collaboration! If you’re designing a shared space, send or show your mood board to your roommates, partner, or family members to make sure everyone is on the same page. When my partner and I first moved in together, we made a shared Pinterest board so that we could both add pins that reflected our unique tastes. In the end, we were able to see how our ideas overlapped to create a perfectly blended space. Even if you’re living on your own or designing a space for yourself, getting opinions from those closest to you can make all the difference.

Conclusion

Now that you're a mood board pro, it’s time to bring your vision to life! Use your board as a guide to start planning your dream space, experimenting with colors, textures, and pieces that truly speak to you. And if you need inspiration or help making your ideas a reality, visit us at Rug & Home—we’d love to see what you’ve created and help turn your vision into a space you’ll love.