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A Hosting Home

Styling and Inspiration + Handcrafted Designs

DIY PROJECTS, Home & Home Decor

How To Create a Design Board (for free!)

How To Make a Design Board (for free!) / A Hosting Home Blog

How To Create a Design Board (for free!)

Whenever I share my design boards for projects that I do around here at A Hosting Home, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is about how I make them! Making a design board is super easy, so fun, and it’s one of my favorite parts of planning out a project. Today on the blog, I thought I’d walk through the process to show you how you can make your own!

READ ALSO: How To Pick Your Perfect Paint Color

READ ALSO: Interior Design Trends I’m Currently Loving

How To Make a Design Board (for free!) / A Hosting Home Blog

What is a design board?

In plain terms, a design board is essentially where you combine design elements (literal or inspirational) together to create a rough mock-up of a space. Design boards help you create a blueprint for a space through visualization of pieced together design elements.

Why (and How) I use design boards:

I am a super visual person when it comes to designing spaces in my home, and I love using design boards as a way to actually plan out my projects. Not only does it help me get inspired for an upcoming project by letting me play with different looks and options. But they also really help me piece things together or ‘see’ what it’s going to look like — and make sure I’m really going to love it! Design boards are a great way to make sure I’m really going to love something before I invest in it as well as make sure it’s going to work with what I already have in the space. While it’s a little bit of prep work on the front end, it has saved me so much time and money on the back end.

 

How To Create Your Own Design Board

1 | In order to create your design board, you’ll want to save images of products from the internet / retailer’s websites that inspire you and you want to design your space with. If possible, select images with white backgrounds. (It makes putting things together later so much easier!)

2 | When you’re ready to start creating your design board, go to canva.com and create an account.

How To Make a Design Board (for free!) / A Hosting Home Blog

3 | Click “Create a Design” in the top right corner. Then insert the dimensions that you want your design board to be. I typically use the presentation template so I can easily map out the length of a room that I am wanting to design.

How To Make a Design Board (for free!) / A Hosting Home Blog

4 | Upload your saved images and drag them into your blank design document.

How To Make a Design Board (for free!) / A Hosting Home Blog

If you are using an image with a background that you want to remove, you can easily remove it by selecting “Effects” and then selecting to remove the background. The background remover tool isn’t always perfect, but it typically does a really good job. Removing the background on the products will allow you to easily layer items on top of each other or right by each other to help you visualize things together much easier.

Keep in mind that this is a paid tool with Canva Pro — however it’s not totally necessary and you can get the same functionality of creating design boards with the free version. If you are using the free version of Canva, simply just crop your photos so that you are removing the excess background around the product. Cropping the image will allow you to collage your items closer together as you would by removing the background. 

How To Make a Design Board (for free!) / A Hosting Home Blog

5 | Move items around your design board and position them using the position button in the top right corner. This will move items backwards and forwards to help you layer items and achieve the look you are going for.

6 | Admire your design and let it inspire you for your next project! Here’s an example of a finished design board that I created for my guest bathroom makeover. You can see how that design board translated into the finished project, HERE.

READ ALSO: Modern Farmhouse Guest Bathroom Makeover Reveal

How To Make a Design Board (for free!) / A Hosting Home Blog

 

 

Well there you have it, friends! I hope this super easy look into how I create design boards for my projects here at A Hosting Home inspires you to create one for yourself. Was this look into creating design boards helpful for you? Are you planning to utilize this tool / technique for your next project? Let us know in a comment below!

February 20, 2021

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Atlanta based Award Winning Interior and Event Designer and Home Blogger Cathy Nugent

Hi, friends! I'm Cathy, a nationally published award winning designer of spaces to gather and southern belle writer based out of a small(ish) town outside of Atlanta, Georgia. However, most people know me as the Monica Geller of my friend group – a coffee connoisseur and dog mom with a huge heart for hosting and an eye for design. The heart behind what I do is simple. I want to help you be intentional on creating spaces to gather and celebrating life's precious moments - whether that be weddings, parties, or something as simple as having loved ones in your home. Living Simply, Loving Generously, and Hosting with Heart.

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10/10 recommend just going for it and painting the 10/10 recommend just going for it and painting the entire room black. ✨ #ahostinghome

Color Details: Tricorn Black by @sherwinwilliams mixed in @behrpaint (Marquee, Eggshell) from @homedepot #swcolorlove #tricornblack #tricornblacksherwinwilliams 

Wallpaper : @wall.blush (See the full mural on the other wall on my stories saved to the ‘STUDY’ highlight bubble!) 

#diy #diyprojects #diyproject #diyhomeprojects #diyhomeimprovement #diyhomedecor #diybuilds #diybuild #diybuiltins #builtins #builtinshelves #bhghome #bhg #mybhg #bhglivebetter #hgtvmagazine #hgtvhome #diyideas #diyhome #homedecor #homedesign #interiordesign #traditionalhome #traditionalhomemagazine #modernfarmhouse #modernfarmhousestyle
✨ STUDY REVEAL ✨ I got a lot of nervous respon ✨ STUDY REVEAL ✨ I got a lot of nervous responses when I said I wanted to design an all black formal study right off my entryway, but I’m completely obsessed with every detail of this space. Rob has always wanted a study, so my goal with this space when it’s finished is to have almost like a moody, swanky cigar lounge feel. When we moved into this house this spring, I told Rob I was done playing it “safe for resale” with designing projects. Here’s to more of doing whatever the heck I want design wise in 2023! 👏🏼✨ Next up: let’s get this space styled and furnished! #ahostinghome

// Paint Color: Tricorn Black by @sherwinwilliams mixed in @behrpaint Marquee (satin on built ins, eggshell on walls) at @homedepot #swcolorlove #tricornblack #tricornblacksherwinwilliams 

// Wallpaper: @wall.blush 

// Light Fixture linked via @shop.ltk ➡️ https://liketk.it/3Yy4l #ltkhome 

#diy #diyproject #diyprojects #interiordesign #homedesign #builtins #diybuilds #diybuild #diyideas #diyhomeimprovement #diyhomeprojects #diyhomedecor #diylikeamother #diydesigntherapy #traditionalhome #traditionalhomemagazine #traditionalhomedecor #traditionalhomestyle #homerenovation #bhg #bhghome #mybhg #bhgcolor #bhglivebetter #bhgstylemaker
It’s been a year. ✨ & I can’t wait to see wh It’s been a year. ✨ & I can’t wait to see what the next one holds. #ahostinghome
“And with that, the 2022 season comes to an end. “And with that, the 2022 season comes to an end.” ✨🎄 When do you take your Christmas decor down? The Christmas decor got put away earlier this week, and the house always feels so empty every year when it gets taken down! I was going to wait till next week to take it down, but with only 3 weeks left until baby arrives I’m finding myself in total nesting mode right now. Behind the scenes we’ve been putting finishing touches on the study while Rob was off work for Christmas, so I’ll be sharing all the photos and updates on that to the feed soon. In the meantime, who wants to come organize closets and baby stuff with me?! 😜 #ahostinghome

#bhghome #bhg #bhgholiday #bhghowiholiday #bhgchristmas #bhgcelebrate #homedecor #christmas #christmasdecor #christmastree #traditionalhome #traditionalhomedecor #traditionalhomemagazine #homedesign #interiordesign #tablescape #tablesetting #tabledecor #tablescapes #centerpiece #tablecenterpiece
✨ Christmas Karen-ing ✨ It’s like caroling, ✨ Christmas Karen-ing ✨ It’s like caroling, but from your least favorite neighbor. #ahostinghome 

#christmas #funnyvideos #funnymemes #funnyreels #momsofinstagram #christmasdecor #christmastree #christmastime #karen #bhghome #whodatwithponderosa #bhgholiday #bhghowiholiday #bhgchristmas #bhgcelebrate #sourhernliving #hgtv #hgtvmagazine #hgtvhome #countryliving #momlife #momreels #christmaskaren
Merry Christmas Eve Eve, friends! ❤️🎄✨ I Merry Christmas Eve Eve, friends! ❤️🎄✨ I hope you all have a cozy Christmas weekend inside out of this cold weather! We’re kicking it off cuddled on the couch watching  Christmas movies eating through the mountain of treats that have accumulated on the kitchen counter. What’s your favorite Christmas movie that’s a must-watch every year?! Ours are Elf and Christmas Vacation! 👏🏼😍 #ahostinghome 

#christmas #christmasdecor #raedunn #raedunnchristmas #homedecor #christmasdecorations #christmasdecorating #bhghome #bhg #bhgholiday #bhgcelebrate #bhgcelebrate #bhghowiholiday #southernliving #farmhousestyle #farmhouse #farmhousechristmasdecor #farmhousedecor #modernfarmhouse #modernfarmhousestyle #modernfarmhousedecor #southernliving #hgtv #hgtvmagazine #hgtvhome #chinacabinet #chinacabinetdecor #shelfdecor #shelfstyling
Baking Christmas cookies with my little helper! ✨ Growing up, it was my favorite tradition. I hope baking cookies with mom will be one of his favorites too. ❤️🎄 #ahostinghome 

#christmas #christmascookies #momsofinstagram #bhg #bhgfood #bhgholiday #bhghome #bhghowiholiday #bhgcelebrate #imsomartha #southernliving #hgtv #hgtvmagazine #hgtvhome #traditionalhomemagazine
✨ Pretzel M&M Chocolate Bites ✨ Perfect salty ✨ Pretzel M&M Chocolate Bites ✨ Perfect salty and sweet treat for this time of year at home or for small treat boxes to share! Warning: These are extremely addicting! 😍 #ahostinghome 

Preheat oven to 200° F. Arrange Pretzel snaps (or minis!) on a baking tray and top with a Hershey Kiss. Bake for 5-6 minutes until glossy (but not completely melted!) Once out of the oven, immediately press M&MS lightly onto each kiss. Let chocolate cool and harden completely before packaging. 

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Christmas in the dining room and living room is my Christmas in the dining room and living room is my favorite. ✨🎄❤️ I’ve been dreaming of decorating this house for Christmas since we started building! Which space in your home is your favorite to decorate? #ahostinghome 

#bhg #bhghome #bhgholiday #bhghowiholiday #bhgcelebrate #bhglivebetter #traditionalhome #traditionalhomedecor #traditionalhomemagazine #christmas #christmasdecor #christmashome #christmashomedecor #homedecor #interiordesign #tablescape #tablesetting #tablescapes #tabledecor #christmastable #christmastablesetting #christmastablescape #christmastabledecor #imsomartha #hgtv #hgtvmagazine #christmastree #christmastreedecorating #christmastrees

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