What is a mood board and why is it so important in the design process?

A mood board is a representation, physical or computer-generated, of a pallet of materials that will be used, or that are intended to be used, in a project.  This ¨pallet¨ represents an idea and a ¨mood ¨.

Moodboard featuring dark grey brick , wood and limestone finish floor different options

It includes materials and textures, but can also include furniture, objects, and even plants. It can include just new elements, or existing elements that are to be retained together with new materials and elements.

 It is an important document, because one material just by itself does not mean or illustrate much; it is in relation to the other materials that we understand the special features of its tone and texture, and these, all together in a room or space, will set the mood and relationships among them. In addition, we can easily see how the different spaces in the same project will interrelate, in other words, the different groups of materials and elements form associations with other groups, and this, all together, forms a solid, coherent and cohesive design, in which all the spaces and rooms could be different constellations of materials, colours and textures, but work well as a whole.

Moodboard featuring light oak wood floor finish , limestone finish different options and warm grey colours for the walls

With the interior design package, ALEZ Architects produce mood boards for every space. They are complemented with accurate internal elevations, details, and a schedule of materials, finishes and furniture.

We specify a material, a tone, and a texture, but typically at this stage we leave it open for different manufacturers. The mood has been set, and it allows minor variations within these guidelines.

Moodboard featuring , wood and dark limestone finish floor, different wall paint options , lighting and doors handles

Moodboard featuring dark oak wood and dark marble finish with grey textiles and brass hardware

Moodboard featuring different wood finishes with washed brick , white marble, and limestone finishes

Then, prior to construction, the client, in agreement with the architects and the builder, will choose provisional manufacturers, ask for costs, delivery times, and material samples. With all these at hand we will put together a definitive physical mood board with the real materials, just to be sure that these work well and blend well with each other. Then, subject to costs and delivery times, we confirm feasibility.