January Mood Board Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was truly inspirational, and that is why January‘s color palette is taking cues & hues from his life.

The inspo images are of childhood home, which is preserved here in Atlanta, as well as various monuments and photos of King. He lived during the time when photography was mainly black and white, then transitioned to color. It’s almost analogous to his impact on humanity and changing the way the world is seen.

Thanks to the historic preservation efforts to his childhood home in Atlanta, the contribution of color photos from his daughter Bernice, and the artists who created the sculptures in his honor, we can envision a color palette of his time, and how it could work today.

The palette I picked up when researching the home consisted of dark wood, striped and floral wallpaper, patterned floors, and traditional style in rusty red, soft yellow and fresh green. The family’s red velvet couch stood out to me. Also notable was the feeling of gathering at the dining table, around the piano, or playing a game together in the living room.

With traditional furniture making a comeback and farmhouse styles being easy to find right now, as well as the popularity of green kitchens, this mood board came together nicely. My favorite find is the Anthropologie Willoughby Tess sofa that emulates the striped wallcovering from MLK’s birthplace so well! The floral wallcovering was one that I sampled for a residential project I am working on, and just happened to be perfect for this mood board. You can find it at Detroit Wallpaper’s website here.

Like what you see on the mood board?

Find out more about the furniture and materials shown here (and more ideas) at the Rachel Backus Design shop on Mavely. https://mave.ly/rachelbackusdesign/post/january-2026-mood-board

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