A Moodboarding Masterclass with Morris & Co. Stylist Emma Coles

“To give people pleasure in the things they must perforce use, that is one great office of decoration; to give people pleasure in the things they must perforce make, that is the other use of it.” – William Morris, The Decorative Arts, 1877

Decorating, ornamenting, and colouring the home was, to William Morris, one of the foremost joys of everyday life. At Morris & Co. today, nothing has changed.

Our talented in-house Stylist, Emma Coles, invites you to discover one of the real tricks of the trade: moodboarding. Combining fabric, wallpaper and paint, moodboards offer a creative vision in microcosm, a blank canvas on which to plan your craft creation. Over to Emma.

“I find SO much joy in moodboarding. I like to take the time to set up a relaxing space to get creative and explore in. So, how does it work?

I gather a basketful of my favourite items, including lots of fabric and wallpaper samples and paint swatches, along with flowers from the garden. With Morris & Co. always drawing from nature, genuine flowers always have something to say. Then, it’s time to put on my favourite playlist, pour a cup of tea and get to work. Now you’re ready.

 I work intuitively, feeling out what I’m most drawn too. Once I have my most adored item- a beautiful swatch of fabric, or an image of a piece of art- I then start with the decisions for the largest items for my chosen room and work my way down. Wallpaper, paint and flooring, then complimentary cushions, accent colours, then art, lights and flowers – all inspired by that first loved item. Layering the moodboard as I go, I pull inspiring imagery from magazines and publications. This will help you to ‘see’ a room, deciding which patterns and which neutrals should go where.

Something that really helps me sometimes is to make a moodboard multi-media by adding descriptive words. Try answering these questions: how do you want to feel in the space, what sort of impact do you want it to have, are you working from memory or completely from imagination? I also think it’s really important for your moodboard to have visual appeal as well as being practical. This is the foundation for your re-decoration. It should be made with love and be something you enjoy looking back on as you go through the design process.”