Decorating your space can be challenging but the use of a mood board is a common designer tool. Following the steps outlined below will have you “in the mood” to create something beautiful.

Your new decorating scheme starts here! Turn an idea into a visual plan for your project

Step 1
Choose your base colour.
Whether it’s flooring or a wall colour, this represents the largest area of colour in your room, so it’s important to add a large sample of it to your moodboard. Adding carpet samples helps you think about texture, too.

Step 2
Add an accent.
This is an important decision. Do you go for a dramatic contrast, or an accent just a few tones away from your base colour? Use your moodboard to play around with options and layer up the board with swatches and scraps.

Step 3
Create mood with accessories.
These will really set the tone for your scheme – go for accessories which share a vibrant accent colour (say, cherry red, as here) and stick to a single theme; maybe vintage, or country or eastern. Don’t get carried away and mix up different styles, or your scheme will end up looking messy rather than eclectic.

Get the look
Get it right and this look is fresh and inviting; get it wrong and the effect can be cold and harsh. The base colours are pure white and creamy buttermilk tones, but make sure there’s a big expanse of mid-brown, such as wooden or natural flooring, or leather sofas, to warm it up. Rugged textures are a must, as are bold red accents in the fabrics and accessories.

Looking for more ideas? Be inspired by the Ideal Homes moodboards gallery