Before you move into your new home or apartment, you imagine your space in different versions. What color scheme are you going with? Should you go with a large canvas or create a photo gallery? Are you a maximalist or a minimalist? You’re probably checking Pinterest for home decor inspiration and your phone is filled with screenshots of home decor pieces and ideas that you want to implement into your new abode. Let’s not forget your notes app; it’s tired. Essentially, you’re creating a mediocre mood board to keep up with your list of ideas.

Instead of your thoughts being spread out on different platforms, consider putting them all in one place. Creating a mood or inspo board for your design projects is a necessity when it comes to taking your ideas from paper to reality. It gives you a glimpse of the finished product and allows you to stay consistent with your newfound aesthetic. Additionally, you’re able to see all how different pieces complement each other.

What is a mood board and why do you need one?

A mood board is a visual tool that allows you to communicate your concepts and thoughts. It’s a collection of images, color palettes, materials, text, and more. All of each is arranged in a way that evokes emotion and a certain look or style.

Before actually starting the design process of your next project, you need a way to think out loud. A place to store your ideas to see if it’s really what you’d like to pursue. That’s where mood boards come in. They are the perfect way to help refine a specific style for your design projects before diving in and getting started. With a mood board, you can bring your project to life!

What should you include in your board?

Keep in mind, every single thing you may want to include in each room of your house, add it to your board. From rugs, sofas, and lighting fixtures to paint swatches, flooring, and artwork. The more elements you include, the clearer your vision will be, and a better understanding of the vibe you’ll have. Take your time and have fun.

How to Create an Inspo Board using Canva

Creating an inspo board isn’t as complex as it may seem. Sure, compiling your ideas may be time-consuming, but the steps to take to create the board are super easy. Using Canva, a popular online graphic design tool, we’re going to give you a step-by-step guide to curating your next design project. Here’s how.

Step 1: Gather your inspiration.

The first thing you want to do is gather your inspiration. Search for photos, color swatches, and more that represent and reflect the personal style and aesthetic you’re hoping to achieve. You can use Pinterest to organize your inspiration with a board. Another option is to go to the site you want to purchase said inspiration from. Screenshot the item and save it to your photos. Repeat the process until you’ve collected all of your elements.

Step 2: Navigate to Canva and open up a new template.

Now, go to Canva.com and open up a new template. Search for “photo collage” in the search bar and select which mood board template is your favorite. You can also start on a blank template if you want to get creative and start from scratch.

Step 3: Add, rearrange, and adjust your photos.

Once you have an open template, find your way to the “uploads” tab on the left menu. This is where you’ll upload the images you saved early on from Pinterest or from your screenshots. Remove the background from each photo for more space on your template.  After they’re all added, rearrange them in a way that makes sense to you. If you need to, take a step back to see how every element flows together. Not satisfied? Swap pieces out. You may want your color swatches at the bottom, while your furniture pieces are separated into one corner. Also, don’t feel pressured to add everything to one template.

You can design more than one mood board by clicking the “add page” option at the bottom of each template. Create separate templates for your bedroom, bathroom, living room, or any other space in your home. This will allow you to stay organized by room and see each element on each page.

Step 4: Save and download.

After adding and rearranging your photos to your liking, add your links. Links will allow you to go directly to the site where you can find your items when you’re ready to purchase. Then, if you’d like, save your mood board and download it.