Interior Design: How to create a Sample Design Board

Sample Boards, Mood Board or Concept board, these are just some of the names that you may call this and for a lack of a better term let's use Sample Board for this blog. Interior designers, graphic artist, architects, photographers, advertisers and even make up artist use sample boards as a tool to convey their concept to clients.  They place the color samples, images of the selected furniture, examples of the materials to be used and accessories selected for the project on a board.

A Sample Board may included the following pieces:

• swatches  (paints , fabrics, wallpapers) basically little pieces of things you proposed to use
• Proposed Look -  it can be  perspectives, 3d, photos , or shop drawings, sketches
• Plans (floor plans)
• Materials (carpets and laminates etc.)

There are a number of reasons why designers use sample boards. Firstly they can be used as a way of communicating interior designing ideas. It can also be used to act as a reference tool during the life of a project. The tools need to make a board include the board, tape, adhesive, Stanley knife and labels.
Tools needed to create a sample board

• Board (paper, foam, illustration, museum boards, or Gator board for heavy materials)
• Tape (masking, double sided, Velcro for heavy items)
• Cutting tool (Stanley knife, pinking shears, sharp scissors)
• Rulers (metal for cutting, scale rule for measuring)
• Pens and pencils (felt tip, soft pencil, colored pencils, colored pens)
• Adhesive (Clear all purpose, spray adhesive)
• Cutting mat
• Labels (usually white)

The size of the board selected to create the sample boards usually depends on the size of the project. In these eco friendly times, the smallest board size possible should be used for the project. The most common sizes used by designers are A2 or A1.
Creating the board

• Most designers leave a border of at least 1cm from the top and the 2 sides of the board
• A larger space is left at the bottom of the board
• The border can be colored to coordinate with the color scheme of the interior designing ideas.

Tip:  A sample paint pot of the color to be used in the room could be used for the border or the space inside the border

• Work out the size for each item (for example the carpet sample would be bigger than a lamp)
• Trim the items to be placed on the board
• Fabrics can be cut with pinking shears to stop fraying
• If more than one room is involved in the project then each board should be labeled (living, bedroom etc.)
• Create labels for each item (labels can be created on your computer or by hand)

Tip: Have all the tools and items ready before you begin

• Position each item on the board according where they would be placed in the room (for example carpet at the bottom of the board, ceiling paint sample at the top of the board)
• When you are happy with the arrangement you can use adhesive to place each item in place
• Remember Velcro can be used for heavy items (tiles, timber….)

Tip: A hairdryer can be used to remove some glued items if they have been position incorrectly 
To see some of my sample boards here are some links:
 Bachelor's Pad
Glam Nail Spa
Inner Sanctum 
Prince Living Room
Living Room Design Board 

Interior Design : Room in a Box by Windsor Smith

Have you ever had your Interior Designer shipped right to your doors step? Well, now you can. Interior Design is very stressful and time consuming for both, either you are the client or you are the designer. It entails a lot of work, from actual site measurement , concept boards, samples boards, and so many other things. Sometimes you also want a particular designer to do it for you but your schedules just wont meet.

I have been toying with this idea for a long time in my head, being an Interior Designer/ Architect/ Project Manager I wanted to make things more simple for me. If I can get away into doing a "shortcut" in how it is done then this must be it.

Windsor Smith of Windsor Smith Home has actually brought this idea to mainstream. She launched Room in a Box which is a complete Interior Design that you can order online and have it shipped right to your door step. It is an innovative virtual design program on the internet. All you have to do is to go online and follow the steps and your just a few clicks from getting your Interior Designed Room.  It is quite genius if you ask me, but then again this has been in every designers mind ever since. Somebody finally had a guts to do it. Coming up with an idea like this has its own pros and cons.

Pros:
Its fast and easy.
Can be done in the comfort of your home.
They claim to be cheaper and economical.
Gives you link to where you can purchase your items.
Less leg work.
Instant Gratification.

Cons:
More room for errors.
Can be unrealistic.
Actual site situations may vary  constantly.
Can be costly if not done right.
Lack of professional advice.
Lack of personal touch.