Historically, mood boards were created using bulletin boards or Foamex as a base. With materials as a backing, usually with pinned or stapled photographs, yarn, sprigs of herbs or other plants, and anything else used to plan a project. But as creativity reaches new limits, there is a growing trend that goes beyond the board, using trays, boxes, walls, shelves and other creative backdrops.
In the past fixtures and fittings, have been left entirely off of these presentations, partly due to the weight and the swatch sizes. With a different setting for presentations, we are seeing more and more luxury handles, T bars, pull handles and levers presented alongside flooring and soft furnishing swatches. With something as important as interior jewellery, which will often make or break a project, it will serve you well not to leave these until last.
Interior designer Kelly Wearstler uses the term ‘vibe trays’, which she calls physical trays with samples of textures, fabrics, and materials, to organize her projects. She often uses full-sized handles and pulls in her trays, alongside larger material swatches. She likes to size the swatches based on the use of the material within the space, to gauge balance. This can be a really impactful way to demonstrate your ideas, to either lock in the style you’re going for in your own home, or deliver a client proposal.