Creating a Mood or Feeling Should be the Number One Goal When Deciding Upon the Theme or Design of a Space
When we decorate, we tend to think in terms of colors and furnishings, but the first real place to start is to ask this question:What do I want myself and others to feel when walking into this space?Although starting with emotion can seem like an artsy-fartsy place to begin, it's far from it.
A mood consists of many senses. For example, warmer tones, deep, comfy furnishings, and multiple lush textures would be the way to go if you'd like people to feel relaxed.
Use wall art to feature warmer scenes such as rich treed forests, winter coziness, a sunset over the ocean, or an evening photo featuring the warmth of a summer city skyline.
With decorating, it's very easy to get off track. When we decide to start with the mood, we're telling our decorating mind to stay focused on pieces and colors that tie into our initial goal.
Here's an example: You've decided that the mood you wish to create is the feeling you'd get from a happy sunny spring day, so what's next?
- What do you want to feature that creates Happiness in Spring? Is it flowers? OK, all flowers, or one? Let's say Sunflowers.
- Next, which colors do you want to feature in the room that reflects happiness, spring, and sunflowers? That's easy: sky blue, various shades of yellow, leaf and grass greens, some white, beige, or cream.
- You want wall art to enhance the size of the space, so you choose spring-featured 3D wall decal pieces that feature happy, light, and peaceful scenes - The art serves two purposes: to enhance the room's size as well as aid in achieving your first goal, to create a mood of happiness in spring.
- Your bedding, rugs, draperies, and accessories are now easier to decide upon as you know you need to stay on track with your initial goal! Now, when you go shopping, you're not distracted by the next new shiny thing; you're focused on choosing pieces that will work for your room and ultimately help you achieve your mood goal.
How to Use Existing Pieces in Your Room to Create a Focus Mood/Emotion:
Let's stay with a "Happiness in Spring" theme, using Sunflowers as the focus.
- If you can't change your couch, you can buy slipcovers; if you can't afford slipcovers, then simply use throw pillows and a throw blanket featuring sunflowers. If your sofa is already patterned, use bright, solid, colored throw pillows and throw blankets.
- Paint your room, choosing from the four colors of sunflower spring: sky blue, deep grass green, sunflower yellow, or beige/white/cream. Try a deep grass green on one wall with a pale yellow or beige on the others.
- In regards to window coverings - This one is a little tougher. If you can't spend any money on new drapes, try switching out drapes with another room, or if privacy is OK, remove them altogether. The change will often be enough.
When you're all done, give your room the name of the mood you created - 'Happiness in Spring.'
Do it for every room in your home.
- The Kitchen (Fresh and Healthy) <---that would be fun to create
- How about the Bedroom (Nautical Freedom) <--think what you could do to that room
- A little girl's room (Confident and Brave) <---a switch from the usual 'be a princess' approach
- Grateful Contentment
- Enthusiastic Learning
- Wacky and Wild
- Utopian Earth
- Faith in People
- Lost in Space
- Euphoria Lives Here
- Barbie Goes Goth
- My Spiritual Abyss
- Being Down Died
- Flighty and Undecided
- Snowed In Forever
- Flower Fishing
- Paradise Sneezed
- Incoming!
Well, there you go! Those are 15 ideas to get you started.
Remember, the mood/emotion is just the first step. The best part is getting specific and deciding upon the pieces, colors, fabrics, and textures that will bring your idea to life.
Have a blast!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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