Why Mood Boards Matter in Your Remodel
Remodeling is more than just a construction project. It’s a practice that brings both big and small ideas into fruition, giving life to long-sat-on dreams or new visions of a space. It’s the porch renovation that creates moments to watch the sunrise or the seasons pass. A kitchen makeover inspired by the feeling of friends and family gathered around a table, or a re-imagined bathroom to unwind from a long day. All projects start with an idea, a spark of inspiration. Without these ideas, there wouldn’t be the demand for home construction and design at all. But where do these ideas come from, and how do we develop them to keep them organized? The answer might be more straightforward than you think.
Here at Stearns Design Build, we integrate mood boards and client inspiration into our design process, allowing clients the time to explore exactly what they envision their final product looking like. Being able to pick and choose the colors, patterns, products, and overall feel for the space creates a sense of excitement and anticipation. It increases motivation to move forward with the project, all with the dream outcome in mind. Mood boards also give our clients more creative freedom, allowing for experimentation before the paint has dried. It encourages clear communication, and through a shared visual feeling between the client and the company, the remodeling process becomes a cohesive journey for both.
What is a Mood Board?
Now, you may be wondering, what even is a mood board? According to Merriam-Webster, a mood board is “a collection of objects, images, etc. that is assembled often on a flat surface and used as inspiration for something (such as a design or goal)”.
There are many different types of mediums to create these visuals and you can make one for just about anything. Digitally, this can resemble a Pinterest board showcasing your ideal home, dream closet, backyard goals, or the exact setup you envision for your home office space. Houzz is another great online spot to find ideas for a mood board, as it allows you to select exact products or styles of home design directly. Physically, mood boards can be created by using materials from around the house. By flipping through a magazine to find your dream couch, bed frame, or front porch look, and then gluing those cutouts to a sheet of paper, you are creating a mood board!
By getting your ideas down on paper, rather than just passing thoughts, you are taking a small step toward making these dreams a reality. Walking into your office and seeing the mood board pinned up on your wall becomes a motivator and a reminder of what you strive to create and accomplish.
When working with a remodeling company, organization is a crucial factor in ensuring the remodeling process runs smoothly. Being able to share the exact countertop materials, paint color, or wallpapers that you want with the company eliminates the potential for communication errors. This method of idea sharing also helps the design phase of a design-build process move smoothly and quickly.
The Role of Mood Boards in Our Design Process
Sometimes, remodeling projects can feel like holding your breath as you wait for the stripped-down version of your old bathroom to turn into something better. The “trust the process” feeling can sometimes be a little unnerving. Still, by creating a mood board, you can feel some of that weight lifted as you now have a visual idea of what the outcome will look like right in front of you.
The role of mood boards in our design process is evident in two phases. Firstly, in the feasibility phase, we share four basic design templates with clients. We offer classic, industrial, modern, and rustic guides that give clients a sense of what these different styles would look like in their homes, and can help them find exactly what suits them. In this phase, they can also express their interest in more than one of those looks, enabling us to combine what they want from each style.
Later on during our concept design phase, we utilize Houzz.com to gather our client’s inspiration. There, they can make notes on photos and other products, saying what they like about the styles. They can even choose their exact wishes for what faucet, knobs, light fixture, mirrors, and build-ins they want! From here, our designer takes over, creating a mood board that consolidates these items in one place and provides a more accurate estimate of costs.
How Mood Boards Support Product Selections
Have you ever tried explaining an object or a scene to someone and just going in circles trying to get them to understand? Often, you have to give up or try to compare it to something, but most of the time, you might say, “Let me just show you.” Similarly, think back to a time in school. Did you learn better by being shown a PowerPoint filled with bullet points and text only, or did a few images make all the difference? It’s a known fact that the human brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than words or text. “Consistent visualization of specific images primes the brain to pay attention to aligned opportunities, and increases perseverance and focus to pursue them.” Instead of sitting around and having an overload of types of tiles, woods, granite, etc., shown to you, a mood board at the beginning of a design process can move you and your designer forward faster in the process, with less room for confusion or misunderstanding.
Say you want to turn your neutral bathroom into something more your style. With a mood board, you can exhibit your ideas. Green shower tiling, pebble-stoned flooring, and a ceramic-style sink will showcase your idealistic, nature-inspired bathroom.
The Emotional Value of Design Intent
“The selection process is critical to manifestation-transforming an aspiration into reality through specific beliefs and actions-as it helps to clarify personal objectives. ” – Tessa, Digital Media
A big part of our design process is focused on our Transcendence Design Theory. This theory is rooted in the idea that making your space reflect who you are has a positive impact on your overall well-being. Letting your personality, interests, values, and beliefs shine through your home creates a more comfortable living environment and can even impact physical wellness, such as reducing stress levels and promoting healthy habits. By creating a mood board, you can identify and focus on what can make your house truly your own. According to this blog by Tessa with Digital Media on the science behind mood boards, “The fact that users independently select their preferred images from a wide offering contributes in developing their personal identity.” Discovering your favorite wallpaper design to put up in the dining room, the type of wood flooring to run down the hallway, or even the smallest detail of cabinet handles all come together in the end to showcase your dream space and who you are.
Try It for Yourself: Join Our Mood Board Bonanza Event!
Feeling inspired? Well, you are in luck! We are holding our first “Mood Board Bonanza” Event on August 14th from 5:00-7:00 PM at SoCo at Towerpoint in the Clubhouse.
This event will be a free, hands-on opportunity where you can create your dream home mood board using donated magazines. Bring a friend and put your creativity to work, whether you’re looking to manifest a goal for the future or bring your vision to life sooner rather than later! We’ll have nearly 200 donated magazines, all the necessary supplies, and light refreshments to keep the ideas flowing. Bring a friend, sip something sweet, and let your imagination run wild. RSVP here!
If you want a change but aren’t sure where to start, a mood board is the perfect low-pressure jumping-off point. At Stearns Design Build, we strive to transform a moment of inspiration into something tangible. Schedule a free consultation with us today to materialize that mood board you’ve spent so much time perfecting!
