Learn how an interior design flat lay, or Style Slate, acts as a tangible visual roadmap to ensure design clarity and avoid expensive errors in any project.

An interior design flat lay is a styled composition of materials and objects used to visually tell the story of a space before it’s built or styled. Think of it as a tactical mood board that lays out fabric swatches, paint chips, hardware, material tiles and decor items. 

At ByMCK, we call this a Style Slate and it serves as our roadmap for your design. Here are four reasons why we use them.

1. It Makes Abstract Ideas Tangible

A digital mood board is great for vibes, but it doesn't let you feel the weight of a brass handle or the grain of a white oak floor. A Style Slate lets us see how materials actually play together in real life. We can test how a matte tile reacts to a glossy countertop or ensure your "warm neutral" doesn't accidentally look "dingy beige" when placed next to your trim color.

2. It Creates Clarity

Designers and clients often use the same words to describe totally different things. When we say bold texture, we might mean a chunky bouclé, while you’re thinking of a patterned silk. By laying every swatch and stone on the table, we eliminate the guesswork. It minimizes decision fatigue and ensures we are both talking about the same thing before a single order is placed.

3. It Catches Expensive Mistakes Early

It is much easier (and cheaper) to swap out a fabric sample than it is to reupholster a custom sectional. The Style Slate reveals mistakes before they become permanent, which could be things like:

• Realizing two metal finishes for kitchen hardware are competing with each other in the worst way.

• A simple wallpaper isn’t bold enough to balance out a delicate floor tile.

• Drapery fabric and paint chips aren’t similar enough in color (or too similar…).

4. It Serves as Your Design North Star

Think of the Style Slate as the anchor for your entire project. From the West Loop condo to an Avondale single family home, these projects involve dozens of moving parts. When a contractor asks about a grout color or we’re sourcing a last-minute accessory, we refer back to the slate. It keeps the original vision intact from the first meeting to the final reveal.

Ready To Build Your Own Style Slate?

We can help. Scroll down to schedule your free discovery call, and we can work together on bringing your vision to life.