Behind the Scenes with D.Lab: How We Build a Mood Board

Every great board begins with a mood—sometimes a word, sometimes a feeling. For this latest look, we were inspired by post-winter optimism: that refreshing, early-spring energy that makes you want to clean out your space and start fresh. So we pulled in cool-toned greens, playful pastels, and soft whites with depth. Think: a tennis court after a rainstorm, a field of wildflowers just waking up, or a weekend reset with sun and movement.

Our anchor piece? Durasein Iceberg —clean, calm, with just enough texture to ground the whole thing.

Once the star surface is selected, we layer in supporting characters. That means:

• A pop of personality: Grape Green gives us just enough zesty boldness to punch through the calm.
• A nod to trend-forward hues: We tapped Backdrop Paint’s Stromboli Chess Club, a lavender-blue that feels both nostalgic and experimental—on trend with the revival of softer digital tones and Gen Z purples.
• Design-forward texture: The Hay Palissade Park Bench adds linear structure and an outdoor element, reinforcing the idea of wellness, movement, and fresh air in design.

We’re seeing this kind of layered, soft-meets-bold styling show up everywhere right now—from hotel lounges to boutique retail to creative offices.

We don’t design in a vacuum. Moodboards are also a tool for forecasting—and reacting to—larger design trends. This one plays with:

• Biophilic energy without being literal
• A fresh twist on wellness-driven design
• The increasing demand for color with personality, not just neutrality
• The rise of multi-use spaces that feel dynamic, social, and grounded

We want designers to see a board and think, Yes, I could use that in a café, a student center, a wellness spa—or all three.

At the end of the day, a D.Lab mood board is an invitation. It’s a visual nudge to take a color risk, try a new texture, or imagine a surface used somewhere totally unexpected. It’s how we explore possibilities—so you can too.

Check out our latest surfaces and start your own design story.