Mood boards changed my entire approach to decorating and getting dressed. Before I discovered them, I’d see something I liked and buy it impulsively, then get home and realize it didn’t fit with anything else I owned. Now I create mood boards for literally everything—seasonal wardrobes, room makeovers, even vacation packing. Let me show you how I do it and why it’s been such a game-changer.
Start with a clear goal. Are you creating a mood board for your entire home aesthetic, or just one room? Your whole wardrobe, or a specific season? I find it helps to be specific. “Living room refresh” is better than “home decor” because it keeps you focused. When I was redoing my bedroom, I made a board just for that space and it was so much easier than trying to figure out my whole apartment at once.
Collect everything that speaks to you without filtering. This is the fun part—save images, screenshots, magazine clippings, fabric swatches, paint chips, anything that gives you that “yes” feeling. Don’t worry about whether things go together yet. I use Pinterest for digital boards because it’s easy to organize, but I also keep a physical folder of magazine tears and samples for when I want to see actual textures and colors.
Look for patterns and themes. After you’ve collected 30-50 images, step back and analyze them. What colors keep appearing? What mood do most images convey? Are you drawn to minimal spaces or layered, eclectic ones? For my last mood board, I noticed I kept saving images with terra cotta, cream, and olive green—colors I wasn’t even consciously thinking about but clearly loved.
Organize by category or mood. I create separate sections on my boards for color palette, textures, specific furniture pieces, lighting, and overall vibe. This helps me see if I’m missing something. Like I might have tons of furniture inspiration but realize I haven’t thought about window treatments at all.
Include real products when possible. Once you’ve established your aesthetic, start pinning actual items you could buy. That aspirational image of a beautiful sofa is nice, but finding a real, available sofa in that style with the price listed is way more useful. I create a “realistic options” section on my boards with links to actual products.
Add words and phrases. Sometimes the vibe isn’t just visual. I’ll add text to my boards like “cozy but not cluttered” or “elevated casual” to remind myself what feeling I’m going for. This helps when I’m shopping and get distracted by something that’s beautiful but doesn’t fit the brief.
Make it physical for important projects. For my bedroom makeover, I printed out my favorite images and created a physical board. I added fabric swatches, paint samples, and even a few small items I’d already bought. Being able to see everything together in real life, with actual colors and textures, helped me make better decisions than just looking at screens.
Edit ruthlessly. After living with your board for a week or two, go back and remove anything that doesn’t feel essential. I usually end up cutting about a third of what I originally saved. The items that remain are the ones that really represent my vision.
Use your mood board actively. Don’t just make it and forget about it. When you’re shopping, pull up your board and ask “does this fit?” I have my bedroom board saved on my phone and I’ve referenced it dozens of times while thrift shopping or scrolling online. It keeps me from impulse buying things that don’t work.
Update as you go. Your aesthetic might evolve, and that’s fine. I revisit my boards every few months and add new inspiration or remove things that no longer resonate. Your mood board should be a living document, not something set in stone.
The best thing about mood boards is they prevent expensive mistakes. That lamp you love might not actually work with your aesthetic, and your mood board will show you that before you buy it. It’s saved me so much money and so many “what was I thinking” moments.
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