Let’s cut to the chase: No one hires a designer who can’t present his or her ideas. It’d be like hiring a chef who can’t cook or a singer who can’t sing. Luckily, we happen to be experts in visually presenting ideas to clients, so today’s article will focus on just that.
We’ll preface by saying that every interior designer is different. Not every interior designer approaches the design process the same way when it comes time to create a design board or a mood board. Below,Ā we’ve outlined some of the strategies we’ve found useful while constructing design schematics for our design projects, but make sure to let us know your own thoughts and strategies in the comment section below!
What is a Design Schematic?
A design schematic is not the same thing as a mood board. Let’s start there. AĀ moodĀ boardĀ is an arrangement of images, materials, textures, fonts, and colors that evokes the style of a project or concept. For many,Ā a moodĀ board is the springboardĀ for design creativity. The moodĀ board you create should be an organized display of yourĀ thoughts and ideas, and as an end result, a board should then be a useful tool you can use to effectively communicate your design ideas to your client. A mood board is what you’ll typically receive from a decorator, stylist, or e-design website (Except for our Design Team. We provide design schematics, which we’ll explain in detail next).Ā
A design schematic isĀ a complete room design similar to a mood board, but it includes a floor plan with furniture and decor laid out to scale. This is important to have for clients who aren’t just looking to update theirĀ home with some new wallpaper. With a design schematic, you can show your clients the exact location and dimensions of every piece in their home in addition to architectural details and appliances. A design schematic providesĀ clients with trust, and it’s what you’ll receive from us here at the KKH’s Design Services or at another professional interior design firm. Ā
Why a Design Schematic?
Mood boardsĀ are anĀ ideal toolĀ for editing down your design. You are able to mix and match design elementsĀ and remove and add ideas with ease. The design schematicĀ is then the next step in which you can lay out your designĀ in a comprehensible way. ItĀ also serves as a method for brainstorming or collaborating with clients and other architects and designers if need be. One of the most difficult parts of interior design, especially for your client, is envisioning what a space is going to look like at the end. The design schematicĀ is a great solution for this problem.
How to Present a Board to Your Client
Step #1 Getting Started
AtĀ the Kuotes, we like to start with a color that inspires us, a piece of fabric we’re fawning over, or even a photograph of our travels. But really, the opportunities are endless. Start with whatever it is that inspires you, be it a work of art or an outfit you find on a fashion blog.Ā Where does our inspiration come from? Everywhere! But we curate all of our favorite pieces all on our site in sevenĀ unique collections: French Country, Industrial Loft, Modern Classic,Ā Coastal Beach, Hollywood Regency, Rustic Lodge,Ā and Global Bazaar.Ā Another strategy is to use Pinterest to gather ideas for inspiration. Head over to our Pinterest page for plenty of design inspiration!Ā
Step #2 Lay Out Your Room
In our opinion, it is important for a board to include the layout of the room. A layout provides the container for your creativity and allows for accurate furniture placement and scaling. Creating your room layout can be completed in several ways, and your method should be dictated by your own preferences and skills. Our friend Philip MitchellĀ does FREAKING AMAZING hand sketches of his spaces. However, if sketching isn’t your forte and you want everything to scale,Ā many designers put together a comp inĀ AutoCAD or Rhinoceros 3D.
These areĀ computer programs used by many designers to map out rooms and accurately place furniture. We always encourage our readers to learn more and take classes in programs like AutoCAD; howeverĀ AutoCAD is very technical and difficult to use without some proper training. If interior design school isn’t for you, we highly recommend the tutorials and lessons on Lynda.com. Or, just reach out to us at the Design Bar at hello@designbar.com, and we can create a to-scale design schematic for you!
Step #3 Highlight Fabrics, Colors, and Materials
Go through fabric and color swatches and pin them to your board. Form an idea of which fabrics and materials are going to go with which piece. As designers,Ā we frequently get questions like: What color should I use? What will this color look like in the room? Boards are the perfect solution for showing your clientĀ color in relation with other items they like.
You should also include any floor tile, rug or upholstery material, or pattern that you want to highlight.Ā Just call our office, and you can request fabric swatches and wood and upholstery samples from Kathy Kuo Home to help you decide on what’s best for your design.
Pro Tip: Some designers like to build a hierarchy into their boards. For instance, if you really want a piece of tile you adore to be the standout aspect of the room, attach it to a piece of foam board and place it on the board so that it stands in the forefront and more prominently than your other design elements.
Other designers, such as our own Kathy Kuo, like to actually create separate boards for plans, fabrics, products, etc. It really all depends on your design process and whether your client wants a full room makeover.Ā
Step #4 AddĀ Product!
The last stepĀ is to addĀ personality to your board with standout furniture pieces or accessory items. Our advice? Don’t feel the need to put every last piece of product on the board. Just place the furniture and accessories that define the design aesthetic (unless you’re doing a full mockup). Oh, and of course… shop Kathy Kuo Home!
Digital Board vs. Hard Board
When you create a design board, make sure you know how your board is going to be presented. Will you be meeting your client in person, or do they want the board to be emailed and sent to a teamĀ of people?Ā The answer will decide whether you produce an offline or online board.
The distinction is not trivial.Ā A physical handmadeĀ board will generally be more freestyleĀ and require the extra visual bells and whistles to make it interesting to a client. An online design board should beĀ tight and very easy to process, using clean lines and exact dimensions and scale (basically, a design schematic).
Pro Tip:Ā When making a physical design board, don’t be afraid to get…physical with it. Cutting up foam board and spray mounting cut-out images and swatches can be a bit of a chore, but it can be a powerful presentation tool (especially for older, more traditional clients).
The tactile nature of collage-style design boards also enhance the tactile and emotive experience for your client.Ā Use smaller foam board for larger corporate clients because your board will likely need to be left behind and passed through multiple hands and departments.
Want to Use Kathy Kuo Home’s Method?
Kathy Kuo Home To The Trade
Are you an interior designer or architect? We want to work with you through our Trade program! From custom solutions to swatch sampling and volume requests, our trade specialists are here to help you with all of your design needs–from helping you order from the best brands in the industry, to assisting with 3D visualization.Ā Receive a competitive no-minimum trade discount on all orders. Plus, unlock deeper savings as you spend with our tiered pricing program. Plus, you become eligible to have your work featured on our blog!
63 thoughts on “How to Present A Client’s Interior Design Mood Board”
Our homes are not just physical structures; they are an extension of our personality and a reflection of our style. That’s why I believe that home design is an art form that allows us to express ourselves and create a space that truly feels like home.
This is tremendous, i got all information about harmonize the furniture and accessories to be aesthetically pleasant for client to approve interior design proposers.Thank you
I guess we need a guide to make a perfect hardboard for the client as a presentation. I’m glad to have read this post.
When I made a physical design board, it was so horrible. After reading your opinion now I am able to make it wisely.
Haha! I’m so happy you deemed this helpful!
I loved reading this blog. So informative and helpful. Very relevant in this age.
Thanks so much for sharing these amazing tips.
I liked that you said that one tool to use when having an interior design done in your home is the use of swatches to choose colors and materials. I would imagine ht a professional would have good access to swatches and samples that would help you to make your choices. I would be suer to consider hiring a professional to help design the interior of my home so I can ensure a beautiful result.
Nice Blog! I really appreciate the efforts you have put in compiling this blog. Will read few of them. Keep sharing the good stuff.
Thanks so much for your kind words! So happy to hear you enjoyed reading this post!
Thanks for explaining that a design schematic is different from a mood board because it includes a floor plan laid out to scale. My husband and I will be moving into a pretty nice new home soon, and we think hiring an interior designer would really help us optimize the space. I’m glad I read your article because you gave me a much better idea of what to expect from the process of working with an interior designer.
Hi Kathy, great post!! Do you use any 3D Rendering Programs to aid with the design presentation? I’m currently using VRay for Sketchup, but I find it’s taking hours and sometimes days for a clear render.
The mood boards you show here – did you use Photoshop, ir InDesign? I always get caught up, as it takes a while for me to remove backgrounds in Photoshop, haha. Any info/tips are helpful! Thank you!
Hi, could you point me to any article that shows importance of showing stuff like posters, pictures, plants in selling the room? I’m having a debate with a colleague.
Nice article! This is the method we use as well. Thank you
Our pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it!
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thanks for this post it is very valuable to me.
I have been thinking about getting an interior designer to help layout our home. I really appreciated how this talked about starting with a color that inspires. I will have to keep this in mind.
Hi Max! Glad you found the article helpful! All the best!
The best article. Thanks for sharing your wonderful site.
Your blog was sooo helpful… thank you for sharing. Great advise
Thank you so much for sharing this post with us, It’s great š
Thanks for sharing nice blog post and amazing interior design ideas! article is very good regarding tips interior design.
Highlighting fabrics, colors & materials seems to be a perfect example. Very helpful!
Thank you for the article! I was very much at a dead end upon starting a presentation for a client; but luckily, I found this right in time š
I’m happy it helped š
I really wanna say thanks to you for such an amazing blog which i have never had seen earlier .. And i am feeling pleasurable to left comment on this …
Good Post.!
I am random user to this blog.! But after reading this excellent article.! tips.. i will reach regular to this blog.
It was so useful info shared.!
Thanks for sharing.
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I was looking for this particular info for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.|
Thank you
Hi Bhanwarlaji, thanks for the kind words! We’re so happy you like the blog š
Kathy,
Great work, I love making mood boards for clients as well. Question- Do you always ask permission to use the images that are on your board? I have started doing this a lot more and I often share my work online, but I am worried about copyright/image right laws. In the past I did not ask permission and used photos from google, but now that business is growing I have been more careful. Any experience with this?
Hi Staci, thanks for reaching out.
This is definitely a sensitive issue and something we’re learning more and more about as we also continue to grow. I’d say it mostly depends on how the image is used and who the image is shared with. If you’re just sharing inspiration on Pinterest or emailing directly with a client, it’s okay to do so. Designers and artists always get ideas and inspiration from other designers and artists, and you’re allowed to share photos already on the internet. If the photo is collaged on a mood board, the key is to make sure you’re not presenting the photos/ideas/designs as your own (always make sure to give credit to the photographer). However, if you’re using images on mood boards as part of a pitch to a large client, commercial client, or anyone else who will distribute the image publicly, I would ask permission for the photo. Additionally, if you are using the photos in any way to promote or market your business (on your website, social media, ads, etc.), you DEFINITELY need to request permission and likely purchase rights to the image. In most cases, the rights to a photo is owned by the photographer or a licensing company.
This post was incredibly helpful. Thank you. I wonder, though…
1. When do you present the design to the client, exactly? After two or three rooms have been designed, etc?
2. Do you present an entire home design (finishes and furniture), say for a new build home all at once or do you schedule a few presentations throughout the duration of the process?
3. How soon after the client approves the designs in a written form do you begin ordering everything?
Thank you!
Hi Kevin, thanks for your questions! Here are my thoughts š
1. When do you present the design to the client, exactly? After two or three rooms have been designed, etc.?
We always charge, design, and approve on a room-by-room basis. Starting with one room and getting it right makes it much easier to understand your client and develop a concept for other rooms belonging to the same project.
2. Do you present an entire home design (finishes and furniture), say for a new build home all at once or do you schedule a few presentations throughout the duration of the process?
As I mentioned for your first question, it’s very important to keep your client informed and up to date throughout the design process. “Surprise Reveals” are mostly only found on HGTV š
3. How soon after the client approves the designs in a written form do you begin ordering everything?
The client should definitely sign off on the invoice/line item list of products before you begin ordering .
Your idea to use a physical design board with more traditional clients is smart. Personally, I like to see the texture of something up close. Plus, you never know exactly what color you are seeing when using a computer screen. The only way to see what a certain swatch of paint or fabric will look like in a given room is to physically bring it there.
Thank you so much, Melissa. These are really amazing Tips. such great design.
hi ms kathy kuo! i have encountered your brand name in the game ‘design home’
i thought it’s just a game, but all designers there are real š amazing š
i’m an inspiring interior designer. Right now,i’m studying interior styling first,
this blog is very helpful š
Hi Rochelle,
I’m glad you’re finding our articles helpful! š
Thank you for clearly defining the difference between the mood board and design schematic. One of the tips I learned in design school is to scale your materials to the amount used in your design. For example, the flooring sample will be larger than the sofa fabric sample, because you’ll have more flooring relative to your sofa. Also, layout your materials so those in close proximity show together (sofa fabric with your pillow fabrics).
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for reaching out. I definitely agree with your tips! Thanks so much for sharing š
Hello,
You have no idea that this post is a life saver for me. Thank you so much, for filling out each minor details off how to represent a design board.
After working in the Architecture field for 13 years, I got really tired of having to gather all the architectural materials from a search engine, and then compile a sample board on layout software. It takes a long time and is cumbersome.
Now I compile our architectural sample boards through Spec Ninja software. I can select from thousands of materials, products and paint chips and add them to my own design boards, edit those boards and export them for the client or municipality.
Thanks for sharing the best posts they very help us. I g0t such a great information on this topic. You made a good site it’s very interesting one.
Hello I love this article; it was very informative.. However my question are
1. Do you charge the client more if you give them the inspiration board? Cuz I thought you show it to them not give it to them
2. What if I don’t have knowledge of photoshop ( is there an easier way to create schematic digital board; like the (autocad) is there a app or something I don’t need all that technical stuff just something basic for now
Hi Sasha,
Thanks for reaching out! We typically provide all of our design services (design schematics, layouts, renderings, etc) after we’ve consulted with the client and agreed on payment. As for the technical aspects of interior design, in today’s design world learning and working with design programs is necessary and expected for pretty much everyone in the trade. If you’re new to the programs, there are several resources you can use to learn (I really like Lynda.com as an easy online resource, but many schools, libraries, community centers, etc. offer classes you can take as well).
Nice post. And I greatly enjoyed your thoughts.
Fantastic post. I am really enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharin it
Nice Blog and amazing interior design! Always full of useful and helpful information.article is very engaging and informative, and I really enjoyed reading it.
Fantastic post. I am enjoyed to read your article. Thanks for sharing a nice post with us
Thanks, admin share for your valuable knowledge with us. As a designer, we have to present our client like it. I agree with u.
Thank you for the article! I was very much at a dead end upon starting a presentation for a client; but luckily, I found this right in time š
Thanks, Sandra! We’re so happy we were able to help š
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Nice blog..very useful information is giving to us.
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This was so helpful thank you!! I am always looking for ways to strengthen my presentations to clients š
We’re so glad you found it helpful!
Hello
Thank You for posting this on your blog! Very helpful!
I always strive for a better presentation…. In the digital presentation what programs are used to clip and layer items on one page? Is this photoshop? If so is there an edition of photoshop that works best for interior designers? Is there an easy program to achieve the look you have provided on your mood boards? I am really very interested in learning the simplest way to create a digital board. Any advice is appreciated!
Thank!
Rose
Hi Rose,
We’re so glad you liked the article. For our blog posts/shopping boards/Pinterest graphics, we put those together on Photoshop, the current creative suite. When presenting boards to clients, we do all of our schematics on AutoCAD or on Illustrator with an AutoCAD plugin to ensure everything is to scale. Hope this helps!
As a designer of wedding/event spaces, this was very helpful! Loved the tip to always start with the overall floor-plan to show the scale and flow of the room, BEFORE getting into specifics about colors and textures. Super helpful. Thanks!
Fabulous. Thank you
Terrific!