The real value of a well-constructed Mood Board. 

The pro’s (and some cons) of a Homemaking Mood Board 

Pasting, Pinning, and Planning: The value of mood boards in home décor  

Let’s be honest — most of us have stood in a paint aisle, holding seventeen slightly different shades of “calming grey” and wondering if this is what decision fatigue feels like. Or maybe we’ve stared longingly at a Pinterest board titled “Dream Home Vibes” while sipping lukewarm coffee in a kitchen that hasn’t been updated since 1993. That, dear reader, is where the humble mood board sweeps in like the fairy godmother of home renovations. 

What is a Mood Board? 

In essence, a mood board is a visual representation of ideas — a collection of images, textures, colours, and vibes that captures the feeling you want your space to have. Think of it as the collage you would’ve made as a teenager, but with fewer boyband cutouts and more swatches of linen, terrazzo, and “soft sage.” 

Despite their trendy status on design blogs, mood boards aren’t new. Artists, designers, and stylists have been mood-boarding (whether they called it that or not) since forever. Leonardo da Vinci probably had a parchment scrap somewhere with a sketch of a chair, a swatch of blue velvet, and a note that said “good for patron portraits, regal but subtle.” 

When should you use a mood board? 

Contrary to what pop culture might have us believe, mood boards aren’t reserved for dreamy-eyed brides planning rustic-chic weddings with hay bales and fairy lights. They’re for anyone planning a space, a vibe, or even a new life chapter. 

You should consider one if: 

• You’re tackling a home renovation and don’t want to end up with clashing tiles and regret. 

• You want your bedroom to feel more “cozy minimalist” and less “miscellaneous laundry zone.” 

• You keep buying scatter cushions that don’t match each other or the couch. 

Mood boards can just as well be called “dream focusers”  

They help you channel all that creative energy (and your twenty open tabs of interior design inspo) into one place that makes actual sense. One of the greatest superpowers of a mood board is that it helps you refine your vision. Instead of a vague “I want a cozy but industrial, boho but modern, farmhouse but glam kitchen,” a mood board shows you how those things can (or absolutely CAN NOT) come together as a cohesive vision. 

It’s your aesthetic, but clarified and curated. 

A good mood board teaches you more about your own preferences. You’ll start to notice patterns. Maybe you keep pinning natural woods and black accents — guess what, you’re into modern rustic. Or maybe your board’s turning into a festival of florals and plush velvets — hello, maximalist romantic! 

The best Mood Boards grow as you go. 

Absolutely! Your mood board is not a marriage vow. It’s more like a Tinder profile for your interior dreams — swipe right on that vintage wallpaper, but if it doesn’t spark joy a week later, kick it off the board. Mood boards are living, breathing things. You might start with a love of teal, only to realize that olive green makes your heart sing. Update it as you go. Prune it like a well-loved bonsai. Let it evolve as your taste (and budget) changes. 

Can you have more than one? 

Why not? Your bathroom shouldn’t look like your lounge, unless your whole vibe is “unified serene beige,” in which case, carry on. Different rooms, different needs, different moods. Have one for your kitchen, one for your patio, and one for that fantasy library you’re totally building once you find out which walls you can onock down and win the lottery. A mood board is like a Takealot Wishlist. It’s your aspirational space. No judgment. 

Online or Real-Life Mood Boards? 

You’ve got options, and they’re all valid: 

Online Mood Boards: Pinterest, Canva, Instagram collections, or good old Google Slides. Great for linking to shopping sites and browsing thousands of inspo pics in your pyjamas. 

Real-Life Mood Boards: Corkboards, scrapbooks, or that corner of your fridge where magazine tear-outs and fabric swatches live rent-free. These give you texture and physical presence — you can feel that bouclé. 

In truth, combining both is powerful. See it online, feel it in person, and avoid decorating your living room based on how something photographs rather than how it lives. 

Top tip: Before you just order your whole lounge redo online, take the time to see what you are shopping in person. That sofa might look great, but what if it has a support strut exactly where your bum would be if you are curled up on it? 

Bringing your Mood Board home 

The magic happens with the translation from dream to doorframes. Start by identifying anchor pieces — a sofa, a rug, a paint colour — that match your mood board and start there. Slowly build your space around those focal points. Use your board to guide purchases and resist impulse buys (no matter how much that neon cactus lamp calls your name). 

Visit shops, collect paint swatches, feel materials. Try DIY projects that bring elements from your board into reality — like repainting old furniture to match your palette or repurposing vintage finds into on-theme treasures. 

A mood board gives you the confidence to say, “Yes, this rattan lampshade does belong here,” and the restraint to say, “No, I don’t need a zebra print beanbag.” 

Take your time. Remember that the best rooms are collected, not decorated, and don’t rush the process of finding the perfect pieces.  

When to Retire a Mood Board 

If your board starts to feel stale, overloaded, or just plain wrong — let it go. You’ve outgrown it. Maybe you went through a dramatic “all-black industrial chic” phase, but now you crave sunshine and boho throws. That’s okay. Dump the mood board. Start again. That’s why you are pinning and not buying. You are allowed to chance your mind.  

There’s no shame in letting go of a vision that doesn’t fit anymore. Your home should reflect who you are now — not who you thought you’d be after that one Netflix home makeover show binge. 

Real Homes, Real Life 

There’s a giddy joy in planning a dream home — even if the reality is more “socks on the floor” than “sun-dappled neutral palette.” Mood boards let us live aspirationally. They remind us that our homes are canvases, not cages. 

But remember to embrace the chaos and love the home you already have. 

Sure, the mood board had a serene breakfast nook with a eucalyptus garland and artisanal ceramics. Reality? It’s toast crumbs and mismatched mugs. And that’s okay. Because the best homes aren’t the ones that look perfect — they’re the ones that feel like you. 

So, pin the dreams, plan the space, and embrace the messy magic in between. Your home isn’t an Instagram photo — it’s a real-life work-in-progress. And that’s what makes it beautiful.