Moodboards and Flatlays: The Essential Tools Interior Designers Use to Visualise Your Dream Space
Moodboard -Kitchen modern farmhouse design, with natural textural, highlights of brass, warm wood tones and sage green.
Flatlay - Bathroom tile choices with matching grout, walnut cabinetry, wall paint colours
Ever looked at the pile of tile, paint, and material samples you have collected for your renovation and wondered why you have so many and how they will work together? Creating a clear picture of the space you want is the first step in achieving a successful renovation or new build. Renovating or redecorating can start to feel overwhelming, especially when it is hard to picture the finished result and you have lots of ideas and snippets of information. This is where moodboards and flatlays come in and why interior designers use them.
Flatlays and Moodboards are like mapping tools. They help interior designers turn a jumble of ideas into a clear vision, so you can see how everything will work together before making costly decisions. Remember, anything planned on paper first can save you stress, time and money!
"Starting a renovation without a mood board or flatlay is like going on holiday without booking a destination, you will end up somewhere, but will you actually like it?"
In this blog, let's look at;
What moodboards and flatlays are (and how they differ)
How designers use them to create cohesive spaces.
Why are these tools essential for designing?
Practical ways you can use them to plan your own home.
What Are Moodboards and Flatlays?
Moodboards: Your Design at a Glance
A moodboard is a visual presentation of ideas, a collection of images, colours, textures, and inspiration that communicates the overall feel of a room. It is less about specific products and more about the mood or style direction.
Digital moodboards can be created using design software (like Canva) and can include anything from furniture images to colour palettes.
Physical moodboards use printed photos, swatches, and material samples mounted on a board for a tactile experience.
Flatlays: The Details in Action
A flatlay takes things one step further. It is an arrangement of the actual physical finishes and materials you are considering, think tiles, benchtop samples, hardware, and fabric, all laid out together on a table and photographed from above.
Gives you an accurate read on scale, texture, and tone.
Makes it easy to spot clashing finishes or missing elements. For example, if your benchtop sample looks too warm against your cool toned tile, you will see it instantly in a flatlay.
How designers use them to create cohesive spaces
A mood board allows a designer to ensure they are on the right track with the design. You may look at a moodboard and think that doesn't feel right, but I love the look and feel of this, whether it is the colours shown or the texture on a tree. A moodboard starts the design journey.
Then the flatlay refines the decisions. It is a great visual tool that makes it easier for everyone to see the final choices and becomes a "map" of the design direction.
Why These Tools Are Essential for a Cohesive Design
They eliminate guesswork and help with decision making.
Without moodboards and flatlays, you are relying on imagination alone, which can lead to expensive mistakes. Seeing everything together helps you confirm your choices before placing orders. It allows you time to review and adjust.
With a clear visual guide, decisions about paint colours, fixtures, and fittings happen faster and with far less stress. Moodboards and Flatlays are invaluable and an exciting part of design, as you can start to get a feel of what your renovation may visually look like.
Thinking about renovating? Start with a moodboard and a flatlay.
Whether you're upgrading a bathroom, redesigning a kitchen or reviewing an entire floor plan, a moodboard and flatlay help you:
Make clear, confident design choices
Save money by knowing you love the design direction and choices
Communicate your ideas and design choices
Enjoy and be excited by the renovation process as you start to see the visual representation.
Ready to see your dream space come to life, define and develop ideas. Book a design consultation today and let's create a moodboard or flatlay that brings your vision to life, before you commit to any purchases.
Max