Do Interior Designers Use Pinterest?

Do interior designers use Pinterest? The honest answer is: yes, we do.

Some designers might be shy to admit it, but Pinterest remains a genuinely useful tool for gathering and organising visual inspiration. In our design practice at Kinder, creating a Pinterest mood board is often one of the very first steps when we kick off a new project.

Used well, Pinterest can help clarify ideas, reveal patterns, and spark conversations - with clients and within the design team. Used badly, it can quickly become overwhelming or misleading. Like most things in interior design, it’s all about how you use it.

Why Pinterest Is Useful in the Interior Design Process

We often ask clients whether they’re able to share a Pinterest board with us. Not because we’ll copy it - but because it offers a valuable window into what resonates with them.

A Pinterest board can reveal:

• Colour preferences (even if the client can’t articulate them yet)

• Repeated materials or shapes

• The balance they like between calm and character

• How traditional or contemporary their taste leans

It’s rarely about individual images - it’s about the patterns that emerge over time.

How to Use Pinterest More Effectively

Pinterest can be a minefield, so here are some practical tips to get more out of it, whether you’re working with an interior designer or planning a space yourself.

1. Start Broad, Then Refine

In the early stages, pin anything that catches your eye. Don’t overthink it. As your board grows, patterns will start to appear - certain colours, materials or styles that repeat and help guide decisions.

2. Create Separate Boards (or Sections)

Organise boards by room, project or idea. This keeps things clear and makes it much easier to share with your interior designer without everything blurring into one.

3. Use the Notes Feature

If you have time, add notes explaining what you like about each image. A photo might communicate one thing to you and something completely different to someone else. A short note adds clarity and avoids misinterpretation.

4. Search Smart

Be specific with your searches. Try terms like:

• “Unusual narrow hallway storage”

• “Mid-century green bedroom”

• “Kitchen with stainless steel worktop”

And don’t stop at the top results - the most interesting images are often further down.

5. Watch Out for AI Imagery

A growing number of interiors on Pinterest are AI-generated. They can be visually striking - and totally unrealistic. If a space looks too perfect, it probably is. We always prioritise real, lived-in spaces with believable proportions and details.

6. Check the Suggestions

Once you’ve pinned a few images, scroll to the bottom of the board and explore the “Find more ideas” suggestions. Occasionally, Pinterest really gets it right and surfaces unexpected but relevant inspiration.

7. Google, Then Pin

A vital hack: install the Pinterest browser extension for Chrome. This allows you to pin any image you find online - from editorials, real homes, galleries or studio projects — directly to your boards.

Pinterest Is a Tool - Not the Whole Picture

While Pinterest is useful, it’s only one tool in a much wider design process.

Nothing beats real-world inspiration: books, exhibitions, travel, galleries, and physically experiencing spaces. Pinterest helps organise and communicate ideas, but the most cohesive, exciting and unique interiors are always shaped by a deeper understanding of context, materials and how people actually live.

Used thoughtfully, Pinterest can be a powerful starting point - not the final destination.

If you’re planning a project and gathering inspiration, we can help turn ideas into a clear design direction. Get in touch to start a considered conversation about your space.