Since teaming up with interior designer, Melissa Mahoney, I recently asked her “how do you make a stunning interior design mood board I see everywhere?”

Have you seen them too? If not, you’ll start!

A few questions that always stumped me….How do you even begin? I don’t have beautiful fabrics and objects lying around, so where do you get those? How do you add 3D objects? How often do you do one? What are some examples? Etc.

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Since Melissa makes a breathtaking interior design mood board for every season, she is showing us EXACTLY how she makes hers!

Whether you want to do more of a vision board or need a creative outlet, they are SO MUCH FUN. I just made mine using all her tips!

You may not know this but but brands pay THOUSANDS of dollars for mood boards. They help tell stories and keep you focused. One of my favorite “mood board” experts is Robin of Verry Robin & Co! Her masterpieces ARE ART. She’s also one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram and her impressive work portfolio includes Le Crueset, Tory Burch, Gal Meets Glam, Loeffler and Randall and so many more!

So if you’ve always wanted to make one or now you’ve got the itch, Melissa is breaking it down for us.

Scroll below to get her easy tips and exact resources.

How To Make An Interior Design Mood Board

How To Begin

• Just pull! 
• Don’t think about anything, just react to anything that catches your eye and add it to a pile.
• I collect things in my desk drawer or containers on the back of my desk that I just can’t part with, and they eventually end up on the massive cork board hanging in my office. 
• If you can buy a cork board that fits on a wall you see everyday, perfect. If you can’t, just tape to the wall! Plenty of people I know use scrap book or washi tape to hang things attractively to their wall. I also know a designer who has made an entire wall into a cork board for this reason alone… inspiration! 

Magazines

• Anything with bold imagery and quotes
• Interior Design
• Dwell
• Domino
• Architectural Digest 
• Yolo
• Catalogues 
• Anything you love looking through at grocery store check out or 
• Every once in a while, I’ll go to the magazine aisle and pull two or three covers that really look inspiring, even if I’ve never heard of the magazine. 

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Type vs. Supplies

• An Ever Evolving Board – great for easily swapping out items and making seasonal mood boards for your office, mudroom, or kitchen
  • Cork board – decorative or basic {Nicole used this one! You can find basic ones on Amazon and Target or you can find nicer ones like these from Pottery Barn.}
  • Tacks – I use clear, but any tacks that you gravitate towards are perfect {Nicole used these but there are so many fun ones out there. Sugarpaper’s new office essentials line is darling too!}
  • Small & medium binder clips to hold larger or heavier 3D items
  • Paper clips to combine paper items 
• A Free Flowing Wall (no frame) – great to fill an office wall with 2D items, taped above a desk. Daily reminders that can be added to and taken away from with ease. 
  • An open wall
  • Tape – thin painters tape in a fun color, craft tape in a fun pattern
• Permanent inspo “artwork”- amazing for annual boards that you can layer on top of each year, or start fresh and feel permanent about: 
  • Medium to large canvas
  • Matte Mod Podge & 1” paint brush or sponge brush

How Often & When

• A lot of people create vision boards annually around New Years, as a goal setting endeavor. I love this! But ANYTIME is appropriate. Nicole for example, was feeling creative and wanted to make one.
• I created my all time most intentional board on canvas, when I left the corporate world to start my own interior design firm, MMDH. It is still hanging as inspirational artwork over my desk. Any major milestone is worth documenting with an intentional inspiration. 
• I rework the massive cork board behind my desk quarterly for fresh inspiration and ideas. I don’t have a date set, as it comes together more organically when I have a spare minute. OR if I’m in a creative mindset to get after it.   

What To Include/Gather? 

• I include my favorite textiles (fabric & wallpaper) of the moment – you can order $0 to $5 swatches from any of your major furniture retailers, or pick them up from retail stores when they open back up. 
  • Serena & Lily – great pattern play fabrics {wallpaper // fabrics}
  • Hygge & West – bold wallpaper patterns
  • West Elm – neutral & colorful textural solids
  • Pottery Barn – neutral and colorful textural solids {FREE!}
  • Google search fabric or wallpaper patterns you spot in magazines, and there is likely a source to sample them from, like Etsy, Decorator’s Best, or directly from the manufacturer in some cases. 
• I constantly add cards from friends and family as motivationBuy yourself cards that really hit home as you are in the card aisle. Layer it up!
• I always include my favorite photos of family – or anyone who motivates you… people who you know or don’t know personally! 
• Small artwork from my kids, friends, artists 💓
• If you buy art or creative gifts, there is usually some sort of creative packaging, marketing material or a small add to the package that creates the perfect accent for your board.
• Other Ideas – You can also use menus from your favorite restaurants, shopping bags, tags from clothing, stamps, stationary and envelopes, coasters, rip out a page from a coffee table book, etc. Hot Tip: The next time you buy something, ask for it to be gift wrapped!
• 3D Items – This adds dimension and more interest to your board. Anything that inspires you or peaks your interest works great! Examples are matchbooks, buttons, jewelry, dried flowers, ANYTHING!

My Favorite Tips For An Interior Design Mood Board

There is NO right or wrong when it comes to your board! This is FOR YOU and what makes you happy. But for those that like some extra help, here are my tried and true tips for getting started when using a bulletin board.

• Start with a Foundation: use fabrics, papers or photos that aren’t too busy or materials you don’t mind if they are partially covered up. Graphics and prints work great too and don’t forget about texture!
• Add your 2D Items: Once you have a foundation, add your favorite magazine clippings, cards, swatches and other 2D items you love.
• 3D Items: Always layer your 3D objects on top so you can see them! I also like folding fabrics with a binder clip and hanging them from a pin.
• Try Not To Make Holes: If you can swing it, try to keep your pin holes to a minimum. I usually used the ledge of the pin to hold things down. This way you can rearrange and reuse photos and items without any distracting holes! BUT sometimes this is unavoidable so don’t overthink it.
• Cover Up Edges or Odd Transitions: I usually cover 2 photos right next to each other with fabric swatches or a material to give them definition.

As always, thanks a million Melissa!

In case you missed it, I brought in interior design expert, Melissa Mahoney, to simplify decorating. She’s been giving us paint by number steps to achieve that designer look we all want. Might as well make our home beautiful while we’re stuck inside, right? Now RUN to her Instagram Stories to get even more FREE styling tips!

If you are thinking about starting a larger home project, Melissa is offering a FREE kick-off guide. You’ll get the first steps you should take that will ensure your home projects are less daunting! Not to mention prevent you from making some major mistakes that will cost you time and money long term.

Be sure to check out How To Style Your Bookshelves Part 1 & Part 2! Plus how to style your coffee table!