Renovating without a clear vision is like plonking yourself down in the swivel chair of a new hairdresser and saying, “Do whatever you want.” Chances are you’ll spend a fortune, end up with something you didn’t ask for (bangs, anyone?), and it’ll all end in tears.

Sure, your hair will grow back (eventually), and it’s an expensive lesson, but when it comes to renovating your home, there’s a lot more money on the line… and it’s a whole lot harder to undo.

That’s why we kick off every project by creating a vision board. It’s the document that sums up the end goal you’re working towards and gives everyone on the job, from your architect to your builder (and you!), a clear creative direction to follow.

Don’t be fooled into thinking a vision board is just a glorified mood board. It’s so much more than that.

A mood board (despite its name) usually captures how you want something to look, not necessarily how you want it to feel. Our vision boards do both. They lock in how you want your reno to look (the aesthetics) and, more importantly, how you want to live and feel in the finished space (the vibe).

In a nutshell, it’s a visual summary of your goals, and it’s essential if you want to create the home of your dreams (without the drama and the tears).

LET’S GET THE DREAM JUICES FLOWING WITH A FEW BIG QUESTIONS:

How do you currently live, and why do you want to renovate?
Who will benefit most from your reno?
How do you want to feel in your home?
What does your dream home look like?
Is there anything that currently gets in the way of you enjoying your home every day?
What would be nice to have - something that would make life easier or bring you more joy?
What’s the one thing in your current home you never ever want to see again?

WHAT STYLE IS YOUR CURRENT HOME?

Before you fall head over heels for your dream home vision, do a little digging to understand the original architectural style of the home you’ve got. This will help guide you towards ‘looks’ that are easier (and more cost-effective) to achieve.

For example, if your house is a 1920s Californian bungalow, you’re probably better off leaning into that charm and working with some of its original features rather than trying to turn it into a Palm Springs pad. Work with what you’ve got, and make it even better.

WHAT STYLE DO YOU LOVE?

Next, write down words that describe the overall aesthetic, look and feel you’re drawn to - think: ‘Hamptons’, ‘Scandi’, ‘Coastal’, ‘Modern’. Jot down any thoughts you’ve got about your reno too, including colours, textures, and materials you love (like warm timbers, smooth concrete, natural fibres, or soft organic shapes).

Once you’ve got a sense of the style you want, research the bejeezus out of it. Pinterest is perfect for this - pop in some of the words you’ve written down and you’ll be drowning in inspo in seconds!

Finding images is the easy bit, but the trick is having a system to organise them. The better you are at saving and sorting your favourite pics into Pinterest boards or folders, the more likely you are to actually nail your look.

LET’S CREATE YOUR VISION BOARD!

First things first - decide if you’re more old-school (corkboard and scissors) or new-school (hello, digital magic). Either way works and the only rule is that your board should be easy to access and something you can look at often.

For what it’s worth, we love using a combo of Pinterest and Instagram to screenshot pics we love. And if you want to bring everything together in one spot, Canva is fab for creating a single-page vision board. We use Canva for our own projects and share our template with our students in Three Birds Reno School and Styling School.

Once you’ve picked your platform, it’s time to get cracking:

Write your reno vision in 3–5 words.
Example: ‘Modern Mediterranean villa’
Write how you want to feel, using a few words.
Example: “I want to feel like I’m on holidays every day.”
Come up with a hashtag for your reno vision.
Example: #SantoriniInSydney
Pick no more than 10 of your fave inspo shots and check that they match the words in Steps 1–3. Do they look like the style and feel you’re going for?
Pin the words and pics on your vision board.
Whether that’s digital, a corkboard, or a scrapbook - go with whatever floats your boat.

HERE ARE A FEW we prepared earlier…

Check out the vision board we created before we even set foot on site at House 12. Then take a look at the finished home. Same same, right?! That’s the beauty of a well-crafted vision board - it’s like a magic crystal ball that gives you a sneak peek of your future reno.

Similarly, at House 13, we locked in our vision board before pressing go on the project, and it’s clear to see how the inspo came to life in the finished home.

Whenever we’re choosing tiles, paint, wallpaper (anything, really), we always refer back to the vision board to make sure it aligns with the overall look and feel we’re chasing. It’s simple when you know how!

READY to CREATE A VISION BOARD FOR YOUR HOME?

If you're keen to learn the step-by-step process for creating your own vision board (and so much more), you're in the right place!

Three Birds Reno School is the ultimate online course for anyone wanting to renovate their home. There are no assessments, no exams, just loads of fun videos and practical templates and guides to help you design and renovate your dream home. You can work through the course at your own pace, and you’ll have lifetime access to all the materials and new updates as they happen.

Plus, you’ll get exclusive access to our private Facebook Group - a buzzing community of fellow Reno Schoolers who are all on the same journey, ready to cheer you on and share their own hot tips. We can’t wait to see you on the inside!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THREE BIRDS RENO SCHOOL!