Define your decor style with a mood board

Mood boards are the latest trend in the design world. Whether you are a professional or a DIY’er, they can be utilized to help you visualize the mood or feel of your new room.

Heather Sanders, Home Stylist and owner of  The ReStyle Group , has worked with clients of all budgets and decor styles. She has also styled the Stone Creek Kitchen Cabinets in the Sonoran Living studio.

Still, she says the starting point for all of them is a mood board, also called a style board.

She suggests, before you dig into your next project, you learn how to use mood boards to save time and money.

Learn to curate digitally

The internet is filled with inspiring images of rooms and spaces that can serve as starting points to any new design. Save those images in a folder or a site like Pinterest.com for quick reference. You can request a free invite to Pinterest with an active email account.

Try on texture and color

Mood boards allow you the opportunity to try out the latest color combinations with no risk.  You can also mix textures and finishes to see how they will work together in your room.

Be literal or loose

There is no right or wrong way to create a mood board. Many are actual room layouts with proper furniture placement while others layer a mix of proposed products and elements together. Go with the format you are most comfortable with.

Measure twice, buy once

It is great fun to dabble with mood board creation sites, swapping and placing products with ease. Don’t forget to check the availability of products as well as dimensions and descriptions. It is crucial to understand the scale and material before something is purchased just because it looked good.

Don’t skip steps

Mood boards are not meant to replace the step of touching, feeling and seeing items together before you commit. Always get samples of your paint, wallpaper, fabric and other finishes to ensure color accuracy, sheen and test how they work in your rooms’ lighting. The mood board and the ability to easily edit and swap out elements will save you time and money on the front end of your project.

Free mood board creation site: www.olioboard.com

Heather Sanders has styled the Sonoran Living offers a variety of services from consultation to full service interior design. You can follow her on Facebook at The ReStyle Group and also on Pinterest with boards also under The ReStyle Group.