The Art of Moodboarding
There’s something deeply satisfying about creating a moodboard—it’s like piecing together a visual puzzle that captures a feeling, an idea, or a direction. As a creative with ADHD, moodboarding is the perfect way to merge so many of my disparate interests: sourcing vintage treasures, thrifting for unique finds, curating color palettes, exploring textures, and weaving in sketches, photographs or patterns that bring a composition to life.
Moodboards can be used for just about anything in my opinion! From planning a bedroom refresh, revamping a wardrobe, defining artistic direction for a project, or even setting the tone for a new creative or lifestyle venture. They help refine an idea before bringing it to life, acting as a visual roadmap.
As fun as moodboards are, they can also feel intimidating. Putting together a refined, balanced composition takes practice. It’s all about finding cohesiveness—knowing when to add contrast, when to pull back, and how to create a flow that feels effortless. It can take time to develop an eye for it, but once you do, it becomes an invaluable tool for any creative pursuit.
I absolutely revel in the process of gathering, experimenting, and letting the vision unfold. Whether you’re designing a space, refreshing your personal style, or mapping out an art piece, it truly is the perfect way to bring clarity to your creative process.
Having a stack of paint chips on hand from your local home improvement store can really expedite the process of color selection. Plus, when it comes time to needing the actual color of paint (if that’s part of your project you’re using it for) you already have the exact color description! I really enjoy the paint chips from BEHR. They can be found at Home Depot and are the perfect reference size. Also, if you buy your paint from Home Depot, they’ll create an account from your phone number to save all of your paint purchases in and save it by room or project name. That way, if you ever need more of the color for touch ups later, or are selling your home, you can relay that information on to the next homeowner in case the need ever arises for them.
ANYWAYS, back to moodboarding…
I like to think of moodboarding as a kind of creative cooking—combining old and new ingredients, adjusting flavors, and simmering ideas until everything blends just right. Sourcing found objects, vintage materials, and textures alongside digital elements or modern inspirations feels like taking a cherished family recipe and putting a fresh twist on it. Some elements add depth, others bring contrast, and occasionally, something unexpected pulls the whole thing together.
Like in cooking, there’s a balance between intuition and experimentation. Sometimes, a piece looks perfect on its own but throws off the whole composition once placed next to something else. That’s where the magic of refining comes in—stepping back, adjusting, testing, and trusting the process until the final moodboard feels just right.
