I was scrolling through my Pinterest boards the other day, doing a bit of digital decluttering (because, let’s be honest, I save a lot of things I’ll never revisit), when I stumbled across a board that made me cringe so hard I almost closed my laptop.
Now, I’m an avid pinner. Pinterest is my happy place. I pin everything that inspires me—from recipes I’ll probably never cook, to haircuts I might actually try, to dreamy fashion and interiors. But it’s also where I piece together mood boards for projects, both personal and client-based.
The board in question? It was for my brand. A board from way back when my business idea was just starting to take shape, and I was figuring out what I wanted to bring into the world. At first glance, 80% of it was unmistakably me—earthy tones, clean lines, muted hues. But that other 20%? Let’s just say it was an awkward collection of colours and trends that had no business being there.
Looking at it now, I know exactly what I was doing. That board wasn’t just a reflection of my vision—it was my internal tug-of-war. The 80% me was confident, intuitive, and sure of what I loved. The 20% not-me? That was insecurity, plain and simple.
This was around three years ago, when everyone was screaming about how beige brands were boring. “Beige won’t get you noticed!” they’d say. “Beige brands are dead!” And there I was, someone whose entire wardrobe is basically a rotating palette of black, white, beige, brown, a hint of green, and maybe a whisper of pink, feeling like the most unoriginal person in the world.
I can almost hear my inner dialogue from back then:
“I don’t want people to think I’m boring.”
“If everyone’s doing bright, bold colours, maybe I should too.”
“I’m not trendy. I don’t like screaming for attention with neon brights. But if I don’t, will anyone even notice me?”
“If I just force myself to add these colours, maybe I’ll feel more confident…”
Spoiler alert: I didn’t.
Over the years, as I’ve leaned deeper into design (not marketing, even though some people told me I needed to pursue—but that’s a story for another day), I’ve learned something transformative: branding is so much more than colours. And those colours? They don’t define you.
What defines you—your brand, your essence, your identity—is how authentically it reflects you. Your story, your values, your personality. The things you love innately, the details you might not even realise are uniquely yours.
Sure, trends can be fun. They can give you a spark of inspiration or a fresh perspective. But if they don’t feel right, if they don’t connect with who you are, they’re just noise.
Looking at that board now, I don’t feel embarrassed anymore. It’s a reminder of the journey I’ve taken—from someone who felt she had to dilute herself to fit in, to someone who unapologetically embraces the muted, earthy tones that make her feel at home.
Because beige? Beige isn’t boring. It’s timeless. It’s grounding. It’s a canvas for stories, memories, and experiences to unfold.
So here’s the takeaway:
Your brand doesn’t have to shout to be heard. It doesn’t have to follow trends to be seen. It just has to be you. Bold or soft, loud or quiet, bright or muted—what matters is that it’s honest. Because when you create something that reflects who you truly are, the right people will notice.
Now, when I pin, I do it with intention. Not to impress. Not to conform. Just to create, build, and dream—on my own terms.
And if you’re feeling the pressure to bend yourself into something you’re not? I’ll tell you what I wish I could’ve told myself three years ago: You don’t need to add anything extra to be enough.
