Creating an inspiration board - Part 1

Creating an Inspiration Board

A lot of work gets done in the very beginning that helps to determine the direction you might take a project in, and gathering images is always my first port of call.

Where to Start:

Gather images that inspire you – and at this stage you can be as broad as you like. The images could either be referencing very specific design elements that you like, such as a particular stair runner, or they could be evoking a more general mood that you want to replicate.

If you're decorating for clients, this is the part of the process where you can work out what their taste is and what they want their home to look like by gauging their reaction to your inspirational images.

Draw from What Inspires You:

You can find inspiration from all sorts of different places. These could be:

• The work of other designers
• A specific century or decade of design history
• Pinterest and Instagram
• Books and magazines

Don't worry about borrowing ideas from other homes or designers – this is how the process works. You won't necessarily copy the exact idea, because you'll evolve it to suit your project.

Work out and note down what exactly draws you to an image, and try to see if there's a theme running through, such as a colour palette, material or style. Are you drawn to particular fabric and wallpaper choices, or is it an architectural detail? You're aiming to build a wide menu of things that you like, which you'll then be able to edit down.