The One Thing I Always Do Before Redecorating a Room

So you want to redecorate your home and don’t know where to start. I got you.

A question I get all the time when sharing my journey is: "How do you actually execute your vision?" My answer is always: mood boards. I absolutely love mood boards; they bring my vision to life.

I often struggle to articulate my ideas verbally, but seeing them visually laid out on a mood board allows me to better communicate how I want my projects to feel, look, and how I want them to express me. I’ve been in the process of redecorating my apartment for a year now—I wanted it to fit who my family is and also feel exciting and joyful. For each project I’ve worked on, I’ve created a board inspired by things I’ve seen on Pinterest and from my own creatives, culture, and family. I have three kids, so life looks pretty chaotic and fun on my end. My apartment has a lot of bright colors, and right now I’m working on the hallway and kids’ room.

Throughout the process, Pinterest and following other interior creatives on social media have allowed my creative juices to flow—so now, I’m going to help you get started.

Step 1: Open Canva

First, let's open up Canva and search “mood boards”—they have a bunch of templates you can use to sketch out your next home project. You can add paint colors that you’re considering, or along with words, pictures, and items that capture the vibe you’re going for.

Step 2: Use Pinterest

This is where I recommend having a Pinterest account. Save home decor and interior design that really catches your eye and feels like you. Create and label each board under a different room or area you want to design in your home (this is how I organize mine). And if you’re looking for a way to spend less time on social media… Pinterest will do that for you.

Step 3: Build the Mood Board

Pick the room or area you want to work on and start placing pictures and decor you want to use for this project on the canva mood board template. I’ll give you three examples of my own apartment mood boards.

My templates

Vision sparks creativity. Your home says a lot about who you are and what season of life you’re in. Embrace what each home project represents, and take time to reflect on how your space reflects where you are right now. So if you’re feeling stuck and needing inspiration, make a mood board and get inspired by creatives on social media.

More From Food52

• How to Share a Room With Your Child (and Actually Make It Work)

• How I Create a Fall Tablescape Using What I Already Have

• Before We Close the Tabs: Design Pieces Worth Saving

• What the First Frost Means for Our Garden