How To Make Material Mood Boards & Examples

A space is brought to life by its finishes. From surface materials to furnishings and fixtures, these are the elements that transform a mere structure into a place with its own distinct character. If you’re looking to selection finishes that elevate your interior design, a moodboard is the best place to start — because making your selections can be hard without visualising them first! In this blog, we give you our top tips to interior design moodboarding. We've also pulled together a series of moodboards to spark inspiration, showcasing this year’s trending design stories.

Tips for Creating Your Own Material Moodboards

Start with a concept and tell a story.

It’s all in the name; each board should create a cohesive mood. Before diving into finishes, define the room’s theme or vibe. Warm minimalism? Coastal luxe? Eclectic and vintage-inspired? This concept gives you a starting point for your selections. It’s ok if this changes as the journey evolves, or if you want to tie multiple ideas together —just make sure your selections complement each other, and that you’re not just throwing a bunch of things you like together.

Choose a hero material or finish.

Select one standout material or finish to build your palette around — like a statement stone, specific timber floorboard, or a furniture piece in your collection. This helps anchor your design and gives the rest of your choices direction.

Mix and match.

The magic is in contrast. Balance structural materials with fabrics or soft finishes. Mix polished and matte textures, rough and smooth materials, warm and cool tones, handmade and machine-polished furnishings… Don’t be afraid to combine the unexpected. This is how we turn a basic four-walled structure into a place with dimension and character — a life of its own.

Keep a consistent palette.

Stick to 5–6 complementary tones or textures, even if you’re going for eclectic maximalism. You still want to create visual harmony and makes your moodboard feel intentional. As mentioned above, you should mix textures or finishes, but keep returning to the design story that ties everything together to avoid an overwhelming mess!

Use samples if possible.

Real textures go a long way in conveying feeling. If possible, use real swatches — tiles, timber, paint chips, fabrics. Lay them out, move them around, and observe how they work in natural light. Physical interaction makes a difference, because things can look different on-screen.

Visualising Textures & Tones: Examples

Concept: Soft Brutalism

The functionalist architecture of the ‘50s and ‘60s is having a real comeback, but with a bigger emphasis on warmth and tactility. To embrace what we’re calling ‘soft brutalism’, you should juxtapose raw and industrial finishes with soft textures and natural materials — think plush rugs and linen curtains, swapping sleek metal for a tactile lived-in patina, or complementing microcement and concrete with timber and bricks.

Featuring X-Bond Microcement, top left.

Concept: Earth Tones

People often confuse earthy with neutral, but you can embrace a nature-inspired palette without falling victim to a boring ‘sad beige’ aesthetic. This look draws on richer, more vibrant interpretations of earth tones to evoke a sense of warmth and nuance.

Concept: Monochrome with Texture

This is minimalism at its most high-impact. Layering all one tone with varied textures creates a dynamic and interesting space, despite the use of only one colour. We’ve experimented with green and red here, but you get the idea! Feel free to adapt for your hero hue of choice.

Concept: Mediterranean Coastal

Coastal design is evolving — shifting away from the crisp white tones of the traditional ‘Hamptons’ look and moving toward the warmth and character of Mediterranean-inspired spaces. Think sun-drenched textures, raw materials, and organic forms that reflect the effortless charm of the Mediterranean coast. Instead of polished finishes and nautical motifs, we’re seeing a rise in terracotta and limestone tiles, Venetian plaster/limewash or microcement walls and more rustic take on coastal living.