Planning a home renovation can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re renovating a character property or listed building, where every decision matters and changes can be costly. One of the simplest ways to bring clarity to your ideas before the dust, disruption and design decisions begin is to create a moodboard.

Using Pinterest to gather inspiration and Canva to pull it all together, you can create a clear, visual direction for your renovation or room trannformation — without needing a designer or expensive software.

I love a good moodboard, here’s how I easily get my ideas out of my head and onto paper.

Why Moodboards Are Essential for Renovations (Especially Older Homes)

When renovating a period or listed property, it’s easy to fall into one of two traps:

• Playing it too safe and losing character
• Mixing too many styles and ending up with a confused space

I find a moodboard helps ensure you strike a balance.

It allows you to:

• Visualise the finished space before committing
• Keep character and history front of mind
• Make confident decisions on paint, materials and finishes
• Communicate your vision clearly to trades and suppliers

Think of it as your renovation compass — something to return to whenever decisions feel hard. I quite often find I’m still updating/tweaking as the journey moves on and I learn more about the building.

Step 1: Create a Focused Pinterest Board

Pinterest is your starting point for exploration.

Name Your Board Clearly

Instead of something vague, be specific:

• Victorian Farmhouse Living Room Moodboard
• Listed Building Kitchen Renovation
• Neutral Country Bedroom Ideas

This helps Pinterest serve you better suggestions — and keeps your ideas cohesive. You can then break it down into sections within that board. I did this to keep all the bathrooms together, but then had a section for each specific bathroom. You could also use to split out flooring from lighting etc. Whatever works best for you.

Pin Generously (At First)

At this stage, don’t analyse too much. Pin anything that:

• Stops you scrolling
• Feels like the atmosphere you want
• Includes colours, textures or layouts you’re drawn to

Look for:

• Whole rooms
• Close-ups of finishes
• Architectural details
• Lighting styles
• Flooring Styles

Aim for 25–40 pins initially.

Step 2: Edit Ruthlessly

This is where the magic happens.

Go back through your board and remove anything that:

• Feels trendy rather than timeless
• Doesn’t suit the age or character of your home
• Clashes with the overall mood

Patterns will start to emerge — similar tones, materials, layouts or styles. That’s your direction revealing itself.

Step 3: Identify Your Core Renovation Style

Before you open Canva, take a moment to get clear on the big picture.

Ask yourself:

• Is this space warm or light?
• Rustic or refined?
• Traditional with modern touches?

Most renovation moodboards come down to:

• 2–4 core colours
• 1–2 dominant materials
• One clear overall feeling

You’re not choosing exact products yet — you’re defining the vibe.

Step 4: Build Your Moodboard in Canva

Canva is perfect for turning inspiration into something tangible.

Choose a Simple Layout

Search Canva for:

• “Interior moodboard”
• “Collage”
• Or use a blank A4 or square canvas

Simple layouts work best, especially for renovation planning.

Add Your Pinterest Images

Download your favourite pins and upload them to Canva.

Tips for arranging:

• Mix wide shots with close-up details
• Group similar tones together
• Leave breathing space — less is more

Your board should feel calm and intentional, not busy.

Step 5: Add Colour Swatches and Materials

This is what transforms a moodboard from inspiration to a working tool.

Include Colour Blocks

Use Canva’s shapes to add swatches representing:

• Wall colours
• Wood tones
• Accent shades

You can sample colours directly from images using Canva’s colour picker.

Optional Notes

Light, minimal text works well:

• “Warm neutral walls”
• “Natural timber throughout”
• “Soft aged brass finishes”

This is especially helpful if you’ll be sharing the moodboard with trades or suppliers. You can also play around with Canva’s elements if you want to add graphics such as arrows, or in my case, a paint ‘splodge’ to help really bring the paint colours to life.

Step 6: Sense Check Before You Commit

Step away and come back later.

Ask yourself:

• Does this feel cohesive?
• Does it suit the age of the property?
• Will I still love this in five years?

If something feels off, tweak it. Moodboards are meant to evolve — just like renovations. Quite a few of mine are still being tweaked now, as my ideas develop.

Final Thoughts: Progress Over Perfection

A renovation moodboard isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about creating confidence.

Using Pinterest and Canva together gives you:

• Direction without pressure
• Inspiration without overwhelm
• A clear vision to guide every decision

If you’re renovating a home with history, this step is invaluable. It keeps the soul of the house intact while making it work for modern life.

Fay x

If you’re mid-renovation, you’ll find more moodboards, real-life decisions and honest progress over on my renovation playlists on YouTube — don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.

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The post How to Create a Moodboard for a Home Renovation Using Pinterest and Canva appeared first on How Felicity Finds.

Before we bought our Grade II listed Victorian farmhouse, we had just 10 minutes to look around.

No second viewing.
No measuring.
No time to fully process what we were taking on.

That short window became the moment we decided whether to buy the house that’s now our biggest project yet.

I’ve shared a walkthrough in my latest YouTube video in roughly the same amount of time, to give you an idea of just how little time we had! It’s a little raw in places (all my proper filming equipment is currently in boxes somewhere), but it captures the reality — the unknowns, the nerves, and the spark that made us say yes anyway.

Almost there….

Since then, the progress over the last few weeks has been incredible — and we’re now just weeks away from finally moving in.

If you’re interested in property, renovation, heritage buildings, or the reality of taking on a long-term project alongside full-time work and family life in video, then subscribe to the YouTube channel. It will give you a great insight as our journey progresses!

Watch the video above

Sometimes the biggest decisions really do happen in the smallest windows of time.

Fay x

The post Hall Farm Come Inside Our Grade II Listed Farmhouse appeared first on How Felicity Finds.

As a new year begins, we’ve found ourselves looking back at just how much has changed at Hall Farm over the past three months. Owning a listed building in the heart of Thornton-Le-Dale, Yorkshire, has always felt like a privilege, and these last few months truly marked a turning point in our renovation journey. What once felt like an endless to-do list has slowly transformed into real, tangible progress.

Much of the work completed so far hasn’t been the glamorous, Instagram-ready kind — but it has been essential. We began by completely rewiring and replumbing the house, carefully threading modern infrastructure through centuries-old walls. These upgrades were designed to future-proof Hall Farm. Ensuring it remains safe, efficient, and comfortable, while respecting its historic fabric.

Alongside this, we installed a brand-new boiler — a small miracle for anyone who has lived through a Yorkshire winter in a draughty old farmhouse. The chimneys have been inspected, made safe and will be restored fully this year. It has made an enormous difference to daily life here.

Listed Building Renovation

Some of the most satisfying moments came from restoring what was already here. We have spent weeks dipping, sanding and waxing the original doors and windows, bringing their character back to life. The last of the windows will be refitted this month. The same goes for the original beams, which were carefully sandblasted to reveal their age, texture and history — a reminder of just how many stories these timbers have held.

The kitchen, once dark and impractical, was completely ripped out. While it’s still very much a work in progress, clearing the space felt symbolic — making room for something new while honouring what came before.

Traditional Methods & Craftsmanship

Perhaps the most traditional craft we embraced this year was lime plastering. Messy, slow and incredibly rewarding, it has helped the house breathe again. As well as reinforced our commitment to sympathetic restoration rather than quick fixes.

When we stand back now, Hall Farm feels healthier, stronger and more itself than it has in decades. There’s still plenty to do, but this year laid the foundations — literally and figuratively — for everything to come.

If you’d like to follow along as we continue restoring this little piece of Yorkshire heritage, we’d love you to subscribe and join us for the next chapter.

Fay x

P.S. I will now be sharing new renovation and design inspiration videos most weeks on YouTube – subscribing there is the easiest way to follow along in real time.

The post 3 months of Restoration at Hall Farm: Listed Building Renovation in Yorkshire appeared first on How Felicity Finds.