Vision Boards Visions, Vistas and Real Estate: Exploring the World of Vision Boards from Nantucket and Beyond

In this article, brought to you by a team that has been representing the best Nantucket real estate and rentals since 1931, we explore the perspectives of local psychologists, designers, teachers, life coaches, and photographers. Our focus delves into the intricacies of vision boards versus mood boards, along with the significance of color moods and the Pantone Color of the Year.

Additionally, we offer practical advice on using vision boards to manifest your dream home, incorporating elements that capture the essence of your Nantucket real estate dreams and aspirations.

We aim to uncover how these elements profoundly influence moods and visuals, offering insights that resonate deeply with the vibrant lifestyle and aesthetic values integral to Nantucket, its architecture, homes, and other unique characteristics.

Vision Board Example-Melanie Gowen Design

Community Collaboration on Vision Board Workshops

Charity Grace Mofsen and Chip Webster teamed up to offer a course and gathering space focused on creating vision boards.

Chip Webster, deeply rooted in the community, has dedicated over two decades to teaching English and leading various empowerment programs, including vision board workshops. These workshops, recently co-hosted with Charity Grace, who also enriches the community through her photography, have become a unique method for envisioning the future of personal spaces and Nantucket real estate dreams.

In this project, participants embraced creativity using poster boards, glue, and magazine cutouts, finding relaxation and inspiration in the process. One attendee even created a large vision board as a personal reminder of their aspirations for a dream home. This collaborative event served as both a creative outlet and an opportunity for additional inspiration, fostering focus, goal-setting, and the cultivation of positive habits that are essential in the journey of buying or renovating a home.

Charity says, “A vision board is your vision. I don’t like to give too many instructions around it because it truly is your vision. It could be photos, cutouts from magazines, drawings, written or printed text—whatever makes you feel like your dream, your vision is captured.” This inclusive approach is useful for participants to visualize not just their personal and professional goals, but also to imagine the ideal features and atmosphere of their ideal homes, when considering an investment in the Nantucket real estate. 

Charity Grace Mofsen

Introduction to Vision Boarding

Creating a vision board is the initial step in manifesting dreams, including those related to finding the perfect house or making a home truly yours, accompanied by journaling and positive affirmations. It can encompass inspiring images, quotes, and memories of ideal homes, cozy rooms, or dream real estate, often sourced from platforms like Pinterest.

Vision boards aid in clarifying and sustaining focus on targeted goals, whether they’re personal achievements or milestones in the journey of home buying and real estate investment Nantucket. By selecting a theme, gathering images of welcoming living spaces, serene bedrooms, or vibrant gardens, and arranging them into a visually appealing collage, individuals can keep a constant reminder of their aspirations nearby, reinforcing belief in their achievement.

Online resources offer guidance on purpose, goal visualization, inspiration seeking, and breaking down the process into manageable steps, making it easier for aspiring homeowners and Nantucket real estate enthusiasts to envision and ultimately achieve their dreams of the perfect living space.

Vision Board example from Chip Webster

Innovative Approaches and Digital Evolution

Megan Brehman, a life coach based in LA offers retreats often in the western National Parks, offered, “To me it looks like a collage and for some people it is images attached to a piece of paper. Digital vision boards have also become popular. You can make one on Canva.

I also just discovered this vision board book on Amazon.” It was called, “Vision Board Book – 800+ New and Improved Vision Board Pictures and Quotes for Vision Board Kit, Visualize, Inspire and Create Life Goals, Magazine for Vision Board Clip Art and Collage Book.”

Megan Brehman, Emerge Life Design

Emotional Impact and Neuropsychological Benefits

Once completed and displayed, vision boards offer daily encouragement, leveraging positive reinforcement with proven neuropsychological benefits, such as mood elevation and enhanced emotional well-being. This powerful visualization tool is accessible to all, serving as a collage of inspiring images representing goals and aspirations.

Diverse Perspectives on Vision Boards

Chip Webster said, “It (a vision board) can look like a lot of things. It all depends on the medium you want to use for a background. Most people use heavy poster boards, but it can be done on canvas, chalkboard, tile, or even digitally on a computer program.

Vision boards are usually a collection of images and words that resonate with the creator now and in the future vision of who they want to be or what they would like to manifest in their lives.”

“To me, a vision board represents a connection to our innermost self. We look to include words, images, and artifacts that not only represent who we’ve been, where we’ve lived, etc.. but also who we are now, and most importantly who we want to be in the future.”

For Christina, vision boards are essential for manifesting goals and staying focused, typically created annually or during significant life changes. She also utilizes mood boards in her interior design projects, using PDFs to visualize room designs before construction begins.

For Megan, “A vision board is a visual reputation of what I want to create in all aspects of my life. I’ve always been very visual and love creating collages so this ritual is natural and fun for me! I always hang them in my office so I can look at them often and be reminded of what I want in my life.”

For Charity, “A vision board is a way for me to put my dreams on paper. She doesn’t do it nearly enough. Sometimes it’s easier to wrap my head around my wildest dreams if I can see what they look like outside of my head and on something tangible like a posterboard. It was a major pastime for me when I was younger though. Always a bit of a dreamer, once I realized the power of setting intentions and manifesting, I understood the importance of making time for it.”

Emerge Life Design Vision Board example

“I’ve been creating vision boards since 2009 and it immediately became part of my beginning of the year practice! Not sure where I first learned about it. I’ve also hosted many vision board workshops when I lived in Denver and in LA,” said Megan.

Personally, I’ve seen Megan at work with her vision boards and I was under the impression that she does them often so I was surprised when she said, “I create a vision board once a year at the beginning of the year to manifest what I want that year and move forward. It takes me about a month to find and cut out all of the images from magazines, adhere them to a canvas and put multiple coats of Modge Podge on the collage to protect it.”

Chip Webster’s vision of a vision board

Using Vision Boards to Plan Your Ideal Home in the Nantucket Real Estate Market

For those of you embarking on the exciting journey of buying a new home, consider harnessing the power of a vision board to crystallize your aspirations in the real estate realm.

A vision board is not just an artistic endeavor; it’s a potent tool for manifesting your ideal living space. Begin by collecting images that resonate with your dream house, including exteriors that catch your eye, such as the classic Nantucket shingles, modern urban lofts, or sprawling country estates. Interior design styles you adore, from cozy cottage themes to sleek, modern aesthetics, should also find a place on your board, alongside the finer details like landscaping ideas or neighborhood vibes that align with your Nantucket real estate goals.

Incorporating elements related to real estate, such as desirable locations within Nantucket or beyond, floor plans that suit your lifestyle, and key home features like energy-efficient appliances, spacious master bedrooms, and luxurious bathrooms, will add depth to your vision. Don’t forget to include images of amenities you desire, such as a backyard pool, a home office with panoramic views, or a gourmet kitchen that would make a chef envious.

As you arrange these images, quotes that inspire you, and symbols that represent your aspirations on your board, you’re not only crafting a visual representation of your perfect home but also setting your intentions and focusing your energies toward making it a reality in the real estate market.

Include snapshots of Nantucket real estate listings that caught your eye, architectural elements you’ve admired, and outdoor spaces that fit your vision of the perfect entertaining spot or tranquil retreat. This vision board can become a roadmap in your house acquisition journey, reminding you of the architectural styles, interior designs, and location characteristics you’re drawn to.

Let this vision board serve as a constant inspiration and a guide as you navigate the real estate market, helping you to align your decisions with the vision of your ideal home. It can act as a beacon during the ups and downs of the search, reminding you of your end goals and helping you visualize the successful acquisition of your dream home in this brimming environment.

Scientific Insights into Vision Boarding

Neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart suggests that vision boards can train the brain to notice opportunities through a process called ‘value-tagging,’ embedding important information into the subconscious while filtering out distractions. Consulting scientists like Swart provides valuable insights into the emotional impact of vision boards, which offer daily encouragement and positive reinforcement, potentially improving mood, emotional well-being, and alleviating depression. Additionally, vision boards serve as an accessible visualization technique, as noted in a foundational study by Witmer and Young (1985), which highlighted benefits such as increased self-awareness, future planning, skill development, and stress reduction.

Valentina Gandini Booth, MS Neuropsychologist and Mind Body Medicine PhD candidate: www.healthpowermeant.com

The Psychological Significance of Color in Vision Boards

While some professionals, like local neuropsychologist Valentina Gandini Booth, don’t use vision boards directly with clients, they recognize the effectiveness of visualization exercises, particularly for visual individuals. Although the effectiveness of vision boards lacks extensive research, studies referenced by Dr. Neil Farber in Psychology Today suggest that visualizing positive outcomes may not always lead to action. Nonetheless, crafting a vision board can be a beneficial mental health practice, promoting mindfulness, focus, and addressing feelings of stress and anxiety.

Beautiful Blues-C&C Rental web site

“I believe in the power of focus and intention and I see the boards as a channel to achieve that. The boards are a tool to stay anchored to the goal and ignore the noise (the excuses and distractions from the goal),”Valentina continues, “However I also think boards are less impactful when a person has no external accountability, meaning someone who checks on the goal and the progress made towards it.”

Vision Board Example by Megan Brehman

For Valentina, she feels the same way about color. She says, “I especially believe in the importance of color when it comes to the psychological environment (the color and the light in a room and the activity connected to that room). While some colors have objective properties of calming or activating. Space for subjectivity, because adults may have personal connections and meanings attached to specific colors. I rely more on the objective properties when working with children, to nurture certain associations and the connections that can be found in nature. I have witnessed personally and with others the power of using visualization as a tool for focus and working towards goals.”

Valentina Gandini Booth, MS Neuropsychologist and Mind Body Medicine PhD candidate: www.healthpowermeant.com

Color’s Influence on Perception and Mood

Christina emphasizes the significance of color in design, noting its visceral impact on her. Renowned for her vibrant interiors, she describes how color often grounds her, evoking various effects that soothe and center her.

Melanie Gowen, local real estate and interior designer, named best Interior Designer for Nantucket in 2023, emphasized the profound impact of color and lighting on space perception. She highlighted how color palette sets the tone and energy, with tone-on-tone schemes promoting peacefulness and vibrant colors fostering dynamism. Gowen noted the psychological influence of color, recounting a red dining room triggering conflict resolved by repainting cream. She also discussed how sheen/finish levels, like lacquered or matte, further shape ambiance and light reflection.

Vision Board Design by Melanie Gowen Design

For Melanie, when she was little, she used to say white was my favorite color because “it’s all the colors put together” – I couldn’t ever commit to one color as my favorite, it changes by my mood! White always evokes a sense of cleanliness, organization, and tranquility for me, whether it’s sporting tennis whites or resting on crisp white sheets (mine always feature a monogram or subtle pastel detail for added charm).

I often opt for whites or pastels as a backdrop to accentuate architectural features, while reserving vibrant colors for moments of impact and surprise. I enjoy incorporating color for its ability to add nuance and uniqueness, whether it’s through unexpected touches like wallpapering the inside of a closet or adding a burst of color to drawer boxes in an otherwise plain dresser, ensuring a delightful surprise every time they’re opened.

Melanie Gowen Design-Pop of Green

Pop of Color-Melanie Gowen Design

In regards to the Pantone color of the year, Christina says, “Peach Fuzz – I love it! This particular color is a great backdrop for people to wear as clothing or have as an accessory in their spaces because it reflects on our skin making us look ‘rosy’ and happy and healthy. A GREAT antidote to the depths of winter on ACK.”

Colorful Rental property-C&C web site

Christina sees vision boards as collages of inspiring images representing goals or aspirations. She views them as powerful tools for manifesting goals, keeping focus, and translating hopes and dreams into tangible plans. Christina uses mood boards regularly to stay focused during life changes, and creates PDF mood boards for room designs to visualize projects before construction begins.

Color as Joyful II-Melanie Gowen Design

Melanie, says that vision boards are integral to her daily design process. They compile ideas, drawings, selections, and specifications for client projects, serving as a communication tool with clients and contractors. These boards range from entire floor plans to intricate design details and evolve into comprehensive project references.

Charity Grace Mofsen

Christina acknowledges the significant impact vision boards have had, citing personal and observed experiences, such as finding kittens after putting them on her board. She learned about vision boards during design school and has since made them a regular practice to visualize and strategize. Chip agrees that his vision boards often manifest close to his intentions, though not always exactly as envisioned.

Charity Grace says, “I’m a creative and a “millennial” living and thriving on Nantucket—one of the most ridiculously expensive places in the world. That doesn’t happen by chance.” Megan also attests to the effectiveness of vision boards, sharing how she manifested a move to LA and progress toward having a child through IVF after placing related images on her boards.