Create a mood board with these top tips

A mood board is one of the essential parts of creating a successful interior design scheme. It's an essential tool when you are planning to decorate for yourself. Designers who have a very strong mood board and presentation usually have the most successful end results as they are the best prepared.

The reason to invest time creating a mood board is simple- thrash out your ideas and find out what works and what doesn’t on paper before you flex that credit card. It can save you a world of pain and expense! It will also make the whole project less daunting as you will be empowered to keep your design on track. For example if your eye gets diverted by a bargain, you can check it against your mood board and if it doesn’t fit the scheme, don’t buy it!

Where to start? I always think it’s a good idea to start with a concept board- this is where you get really free and can add any image to your board, not just swatches or pictures of to-die-for rooms. Use fashion images, architecture, wildlife, art, whatever you’re drawn to. This can really help you to tap into your personal style and taste that you can then translate into your interior schemes. For example if you love tribal prints in your wardrobe, chances are it could work in your interior too.

The whole point of a mood board is not to get too fixed, so tear pages from magazines and catalogues, print images off the web and gather lots of fabric, wallpaper and flooring swatches. Keep it loose so you can add things as easily as take them away. A large sheet of cardboard and sticky tape is as good as it needs to be.

Here are my five top tips to creating a successful mood board:

• Use a large swatch for paint, wallpaper or flooring- as they represent a large area in the room. You can then layer up images on top of these.
• Where possible get a real sample; fabric swatch for the sofa, tester pot for the paint, samples for flooring and fabrics. You’ll be matching these swatches so they need to be true colour representations.
• Include accessories on your board as these often add the personal touch or theme to your scheme for example ‘Coastal’, ‘Deco’ or ‘Vintage’.
• After you’ve established the colour story think of a definite accent colour that you can pick out to highlight and lift the overall look. This might be used in accessories, cushions, a rug or ornaments.
• Make sure your board represents the textures in your scheme, be it mirror, metallics, raw linen, rope or cut glass. Texture is a really key way of bringing a scheme to life.
• Don’t just rely on Google images and website grabs for your mood board. Also take snaps of things you like with your phone while you’re out and about.

Source: Sophie Robinson

9 ways to create a luxury look in your home

‘Luxury’ to me represents the workmanship that has gone into a piece or material – not simply the cost or brand name. Paying careful attention to the smaller details in a decorating scheme, such as layered textures, a sculptural chair or an oversized light will help you to create a luxurious space without it costing the earth. 

A well-thought-out mix of practical flooring, wall coverings, furniture, lighting and accessories is the first thing to consider when adding a  high-end feel to your interior – the rest will follow naturally.

1. Invest in flooring

To give the feeling of grandeur, light-coloured natural stones, such as marble and limestone, are ideal choices to create a luxurious and spacious feel. For extra opulence, go for an inset border or central design within the floor, which looks great in a hallway. If you’re redesigning your bathroom try traditional marble on the floor – a classic option that will never date. In the living room and bedrooms, a silk rug or carpet is an excellent choice if you love natural textures, and want to add a high-level of luxury. However, if you don’t have the budget for 100 per cent silk, there are some fine faux silks available, which feel almost like the real deal underfoot.

2. Be creative with wall coverings

A luxury-style living room will not only look good, it’ll feel like a wonderful place to relax in after a busy day. To create the look, I’d go for a strong use of rich textures, using fabric wall coverings, such as suede or silk – even if it is only used on one feature wall. There are many imprinted suede or faux-leather designs that will add interest and texture to a scheme, while more simple polished plaster or intricate wood panelling will also create an opulent feel. These styles work particularly well in the less-hardworking areas of the house, so try it in bedrooms.

3. Use marble and natural stone in bathrooms

When it comes to deciding where and how to spend your money, I believe the bathroom is a great place to start. Invest in really good marble or limestone for your bathroom walls and floors to give it an elegant, glamorous look that is also on trend. Look out for more affordable options, such as ceramic tiles in a marble or stone-style, which cost significantly less per square metre, but will achieve the same look. What’s more, ceramic versions of natural stone finishes can be much lower maintenance than the real thing, as limestone, for example, needs to be sealed regularly, whereas using a ceramic version does not. Personally, I love marble in a bathroom and it doesn’t matter how small the room is, it looks very chic and won’t date.

For a luxe look, go for marble in the bathroom, or choose marble-look ceramic tiles for a more affordable option 

Introduce subtle accents of marble if you’d prefer not to have the stone on the walls and floors. This Double Thames vanity unit with marble top costs £6,300 from Drummonds

For a more affordable option, ceramic tiles with a marble-effect finish will add a touch of luxury just as well as the real thing. The Venato ceramic tiles by Walls and Floors cost £24.95 per m2

4. Go for good-quality doors

Invest in doors that have some serious weight to them, as I’m a firm believer that well-made doors can give your home a total lift. Many people overlook doors but they are hugely important to your scheme when trying to add a luxurious feel. Doors with a bevelled glass inset, in particular, create a spacious feel and can look extremely glamorous when opening into living and dining rooms. Plus, if you’ve extended, adding investment, high-quality bi-fold doors to link the inside and outside spaces will create a modern, light-filled look. My advice – don’t skimp on doors if you can avoid it.

JB Kind’s Calypso Aurora glazed door is a contemporary twist on a classic 1950s design. Each door costs £188.40

Full-width glazing will create an air of elegance in a space, increasing the natural light and enhancing the feeling of space. Look out for minimal, slimline frames for a modern look 

Urban Front’s Neo e80 oiled iroko door with side panel and statement long handle creates a real focal point in the hallway, as well as from the outside, resulting in a modern look that’s energy-efficient and hardwearing too

5. Spend on bespoke furniture

Bespoke storage is not only practical, it is also a stylish investment. Designed to your own specifications, built-in solutions will maximise every inch of space, while freestanding styles, such as drawers, can be made to order, and include compartments to suit your belongings. Choose high-gloss woods, mirrored and fabric-clad styles for a luxe look, then finish with handcrafted pieces, such as chrome or gold details.

6. Invest in at least one indulgent feature

One fixture I’d recommend for every home is a fantastic shower head in the master bathroom. If you have the space, a large style with extra features, such as adjustable pressure and powerful jets, will create a spa-like experience at home. There are many on the market at varying expense but if you think about how many times you’ll use it, I’d say it’d be worth it.

Your bathroom at home can be like a spa experience if you invest in a hi-tech shower fitting. With integrated lighting in a choice of colours and music, MP3 holder and control panel, the Zuchetti ceiling shower head costs £2,922, while the chrome built-in single-lever mixer costs £513.60, from Zuchetti.Kos

7. Don’t overlook lighting

An ever-popular look, an Art Deco-style chandelier will always be on trend. Think lots of crystal and a beautiful form for a classic, yet modern feel. Consider mood lighting for all your rooms, too. The living room should have practical daytime lighting and dimmable wall, ceiling, table and floor lamps for evenings. I love wall lights – they add another dimension, and are great for focusing light onto accent pieces.

8. Go for built-in designs

Integrated appliances in the home are a hugely important factor when trying to create luxury. If you’re working on a project, think about incorporating a sound system from the very beginning. It may cost but its well worth it as your home becomes seamless with sound. An integrated coffee machine and hot water tap are two must-haves, proving convenience is a luxury in itself. Coffee machines are not a necessity but, if you like coffee like I do, there’s nothing better than making fresh coffee in your own kitchen in the morning, and a built-in machine really looks the part.

Great for saving space and creating a streamlined finish in a kitchen diner, go for integrated appliances at an easily accessible height and location for ease of use – built-in fittings help keep the space looking tidy, too

9. Remember those finishing touches

I’m a huge fan of flowers – real or faux. There are some amazingly lifelike silk flowers that you can buy now, which are a great low-maintenance option and add a permanent wow-factor. Choose an eye-catching arrangement, in fresh colours, such as ivory and green, displayed in a modern vase. For extra impact, look for Perspex vases with lights on the inside. Don’t forget about artwork. Select modern frames with metallic or mirrored finishes.

Keep colours the same throughout an open-plan space to maintain a link between zones, and include similar accessories

Source: Celia Sawyer