a step-by-step guide to vision boards
my most favorite annual goal-setting practice that actually works!
In late February or early March, I always sit down with a journal, a cup of something warm, and a quiet block of time that belongs entirely to me. A time to get centered and focused on what I want to bring to life in the year ahead. I’ve written before about my need to ease into the calendar’s new year, preferring a slower pace in winter before I truly begin my vision work in the late winter or early spring.
Each year, before I touch a single image or reach for the scissors, I think about where I’m wanting to go. I reflect on where I’ve been. I dream of what might be ahead. And then I create.
This year, I want to walk you through the exact process I have used to build vision boards for the past 10 years. This is a practice in intention and dreaming - one that I hope you’ll come to love as much as I do!
“Imagine the woman you want to be. Think of what her daily life, her habits, her routines would look like. Start showing up that way, step by step, day by day.” — Jamie Varon
01 — First, We Think. Then We Dream.
Before you collect a single image, grab a journal, notebook, or some blank paper. Find a quiet spot - one that feels like yours. I always start my vision board process with a look back. A reflection on what went well, what didn’t, and what I want to carry with gratitude into the new year.
Don’t skip this part. A space for celebrating the wins, sitting with the losses, and asking yourself honestly: what do I want to usher into this next season of life?
✦ REFLECTIVE JOURNALING PROMPTS
→ What wins — big or small — are you most proud of? No win is too small to celebrate.
→ What emotions, relationships, or habits do you most want to cultivate in the year ahead?
→ Who were you most grateful for this past year? What memories made you feel most alive?
→ What are you ready to release — what no longer serves you or brings you joy?
Your answers can be bullet points, incomplete sentences, half-formed thoughts. This is your work. You do you.
02 — Find Your Focus Word (or Two)
Glance back over everything you’ve written. Circle any words that repeat. Notice the themes bubbling to the surface.
Rather than writing a long list of competing resolutions, I guide my year with a simple word — or two. In 2025, my words were clarity and stillness. These defined how I wanted to feel in every area of my life — in art, in business, in my relationships, in rest. They told me where to say yes and, more importantly, where to say no. They guided me to release my wallpaper business, and to take on my first studio outside of our home. They brought me back to mostly daily meditation, movement and morning pages.
When you find your word, ask yourself constantly: Will this bring me peace and presence? Does this build curiosity? Let it be your compass, not your cage.
03 — Gather Your Supplies
Use whatever you have on hand — the point is that this should feel like joy, not a shopping trip. That said, here’s a simple list to get you started:
✦ WHAT YOU’LL NEED
→ A corkboard, foam board, or canvas → Scissors + adhesive (pins or glue — I recommend pins so you can swap images as your year evolves) → Printed images & photos → Magazines (vintage Domino, current InKind are personal favorites) → Colorful or patterned paper scraps — envelope liners, pages from old books, coasters, business cards, anything with an interesting texture and color → Markers, paint, or pens for words
04 — Collect Your Images (and Words)
Now, the truly fun part. You’ll want both images and words for your board — this is important. Images speak to our subconscious; words rewire our brains. I’ve made vision boards without words before and, while they’re more aesthetically pleasing, I don’t believe they’re as powerful.
✦ A FEW TIPS AS YOU COLLECT
→ These images should inspire and bring you joy when you look at them. You’ll be revisiting this board often, so select images you genuinely love.
→ You probably already have what you need. Scroll through your phone photos, your saved Instagram posts, your Pinterest boards. Print freely and with abandon.
→ Can’t find the right image? Create it. Write a favorite quote by hand. Paint a color palette. Design something in Canva. Put your unique stamp on it.
Great sources: Pinterest, Unsplash, interiors magazines, your favorite blogs and brands, and — most powerfully — your own photography from moments that lit you up.
05 — Build, Then Keep Revisiting
Once your board is assembled, the work isn’t over, it’s just beginning. This is a living document of your intentions, not a finished piece of art to hang and forget.
Revisit it at least quarterly. Pull down what no longer inspires you. Celebrate what you’ve accomplished by removing those images with pride. Add new dreams as they come into focus. Let it grow and shift with you as the year unfolds.
The most important thing? Place it somewhere you’ll actually see it. On your wall, leaned on a shelf in the closet, above your desk, beside your bed - somewhere your eyes land every single day.
“Dreaming. Planning. Visioning. Setting intentions. Celebrate this process — it is some of the most important work you’ll do all year.”
I hope this gives you a beautiful starting place. Whether your board ends up covered in lush travel photos or spare, hand-lettered words, over-the-top home decor or more minimal closet inspiration, sourdough baked in all its glory or the most beautiful wildflower garden you’ve every dreamed - what matters is that it feels like you. Make it yours. Let it guide you.
Let’s get to making.
Jill