A Personal Mood Board

There’s a reason that ad agencies, branding firms, and interior designers often start new projects by creating a mood board: It’s a great way to brainstorm, explore ideas, yet remain laser-focused during the design process.
 
If the term is foreign to you, a mood board is a collection of images, objects, and even text posted on a board that evokes or projects a particular feeling, concept . . . or mood. Think Pinterest on steroids!
As the approach becomes better known, more homeowners and apartment dwellers are creating their own mood boards to produce dynamite do-it-yourself decorating. It’s obviously an economical way to go, but it’s smart too. (Why pay a professional when you can use the same tool to create a “look” that is uniquely yours?)
 
If you’re of a mind to make your own mood board, start with poster material or a strong piece of cardboard large enough to house a variety of exhibits. This is the canvas to which you’ll affix what inspires you. (Speaking of that, a canvas would work too.)
 
Begin your board with a single image – perhaps a photograph you took or a magazine tear-out – that embodies your vision. It could show a room you relish, a location you love, a scene from nature, or an attractive color combination found anywhere – on a watercolor painting, some wrapping paper or even the wings of a butterfly!
 
Use this image as the foundation of your color scheme, but don’t stop there. Post images showing similar colors or different hues that you’re drawn to. See how they work together. Refine the color palette by adding or removing elements as you see fit.
 
And don’t feel that you have to work only in “flat” art. Three-dimensional items, especially those with texture, add an extra layer of visual interest to a mood board. Weave in fabric swatches, bits of tile, fragments of metal. Make a special effort to include items you expect to make an encore appearance in your room’s décor.
 
Still, color is the essence of an inspirational mood board and nothing contributes as much to a room as the interior paint scheme. So, visit your local paint store and pick up some color cards in your chosen hues. Then post them on your board alongside the other images and exhibits.
 
Do the paint colors evoke the ambience you want to create in the room? Would you like the space to feel warmer or cooler? Do you sense the need for a change-of-pace punch color? Make the necessary adjustments with the help of your color cards.
 
Then, before making a final commitment, give your color scheme a real-life eyeball test by observing it both in daytime and at night, under artificial light. Is it appealing regardless of the hour? If the answer is yes, you’ve come up with a winning combination that you’ll love to live with.
 
Return to the store and pick up the paint colors you’ve chosen, always favoring the highest quality 100% acrylic latex paint. With a confidence inspired by the appeal of your mood board, you’ll soon be in the mood to paint. And, with that, your creative vision will become a reality!
 
Article from The Paint Quality Institute