When starting an interior design project, whether for your home, a client, or to brief your interior designers, one of the most valuable steps is creating a mood board.
It helps you clarify your vision, experiment with different styles, and ensure all elements of the space come together cohesively.
But how do you create a mood board without expensive design software?
The good news is that you can make professional-quality mood boards for free using the free and easy-to-use tools shown in this article.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
- Why mood boards are essential for interior design
- How to correctly create a mood board step by step
- Three free tools to make the process easy and accessible
By the end, you’ll have everything you need to start designing your dream space with confidence.
Why Are Mood Boards Important in Interior Design?
A mood board is more than just a collage of pretty pictures – it’s a strategic tool that helps guide the entire design process.
Here’s why it’s crucial:
1. Helps Define Your Vision
Before making any big design decisions, it’s important to have a clear vision of the space. A mood board helps you translate abstract ideas into a concrete visual direction.
2. Prevents Costly Mistakes
A mood board allows you to experiment with different colors, materials, and layouts before purchasing furniture or starting renovations. This helps you avoid costly design errors and ensures everything works together seamlessly.
3. Keeps You (and your team) on Track
If you’re designing a space for yourself, a mood board serves as a reference point to keep your ideas focused. If you’re working with clients or a team, it’s a great way to align expectations and avoid miscommunication.
4. Ensures Cohesion in Design
Ever bought a piece of furniture only to realize it doesn’t match your other decor? A mood board helps test different combinations of colors, textures, and styles so you can create a harmonious space.
5. Makes the Design Process Easier
From choosing materials to shopping for decor, having a mood board simplifies decision-making. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with choices, you can quickly refer back to your board and stick to your vision.
How to Create a Mood Board for Interior Design
Step 1: Gather Inspiration
Start by collecting images that reflect the look and feel you want. You can pull inspiration from:
- Interior design websites and magazines
- Social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram
- Home decor blogs and online furniture stores
Look for colors, furniture styles, lighting, textures, and layout ideas that resonate with you.
Step 2: Choose a Color Palette
A well-defined color scheme is essential for setting the tone of your space. To create a balanced palette, consider:
- Primary colors – The dominant shades in your design (e.g., warm neutrals, deep blues).
- Accent colors – Secondary colors that add contrast and personality.
- Material colors – The tones of wood, metals, or stone that will appear in the design.
You can use free color palette tools like Coolors or Canva’s color generator to refine your choices.
Step 3: Select Furniture & Decor Elements
Now, start thinking about the specific furniture, fabrics, and decor pieces you want to include. If you’re designing a living room, for example, focus on:
- Sofas & chairs – Styles, fabrics, and colors.
- Tables & shelving – Wood, metal, or glass finishes.
- Lighting – Chandeliers, pendant lights, or floor lamps.
- Rugs & textiles – Patterns and textures that complement the space.
You don’t have to make final selections yet—this step is about exploring options and seeing how they fit together.
Step 4: Arrange Everything on Your Mood Board
Once you have your inspiration, color palette, and furniture ideas, it’s time to organize them visually. This is where the free tools we’ll cover next will come in handy!
3 Free & Easy Tools to Create Your Interior Design Mood Board
1. Canva – The Best All-in-One Mood Board Creator
Canva is an intuitive design tool that allows you to drag and drop images, use pre-made templates, and customize layouts with ease.
🔹 Why Use Canva?
- Free mood board templates
- Customizable fonts and colors
- Easy to upload your own images
How to create a mood board in Canva:
- Sign up for a free account at canva.com.
- Search for “mood board” templates or start with a blank canvas.
- Upload images of your chosen furniture, color swatches, and textures.
- Arrange them in a way that feels cohesive.
- Download and save your mood board for future reference!
Best for: Beginners who want an easy, polished, and professional-looking mood board.
2. Pinterest – The Ultimate Inspiration Organizer
Pinterest is great for gathering inspiration and organizing ideas into digital boards without the need for manual designing.
🔹 Why Use Pinterest?
- Millions of design images available
- Easy to organize ideas into categories
- Ideal for brainstorming before committing to a final design
How to create a mood board on Pinterest:
- Create a free account at pinterest.com.
- Start a new board titled “Living Room Mood Board” (or any relevant name).
- Search for images using keywords like “modern interior design” or “boho bedroom decor.”
- Save pins that match your vision.
- Once your board is complete, use it as a reference for your project.
Best for: Those who want to gather inspiration before finalizing their mood board.
3. Google Slides – The Simplest Drag-and-Drop Option
If you prefer a basic and collaborative approach, Google Slides lets you arrange images freely, add text, and tweak layouts without complicated tools.
🔹 Why Use Google Slides?
- Simple drag-and-drop functionality
- Easy to collaborate and share with others
- No need for design experience
How to create a mood board in Google Slides:
- Open Google Slides.
- Start a blank presentation and delete any text boxes.
- Drag and drop images from your computer or copy-paste them from the web.
- Resize, align, and arrange elements for a cohesive look.
- Save or share your mood board with clients, family, or design teams.
Best for: Quick, collaborative mood boards that can be updated easily.
Final thoughts
Creating a mood board is a game-changer in interior design. It helps you define your vision, avoid costly mistakes, and stay focused on your design goals.
Whether you use Canva for a professional layout, Pinterest for inspiration, or Google Slides for a simple approach, these free tools make the process fun and accessible.
Now it’s time to bring your dream space to life! Which tool will you try first? Let us know in the comments.
