What exactly is “lifestyle branding”? In the context of personal branding, it’s a big part of our “outer brands”; how we outwardly convey our personal brands to the world. It’s what our lifestyle says about us, including our social activities, interests, travels, past-times, and home and work environments. How can you best express your authentic personal brand through your lifestyle?
In part one of our lifestyle branding series, Gwendoline Alderton of G.A. Interiors
gives us a tutorial on how to brand our most personal workspace…our home office.
Here’s Gwendoline:
A brand will showcase who you are, expressing your personality, your personal goals and your lifetime ambitions. In today’s modern culture, part of our working life is brought into the home through everyday technology. We no longer shut the office door at 5pm and go home to a mug of cocoa and an evening in front of the radio. Instead, we work long hours and then we’ll answer emails and office calls into the twilight hours.
Whether you have a home office or just continue to work when you’re at home, we all brand our homes on a conscious and a subconscious level.
On a conscious level, you may decide to introduce your favourite ‘brand’ colour to the lounge, just as you would choose to accessorise your everyday outfit with a vibrant handbag or a coloured tie.
On a subconscious level you may choose a feature chair for your lounge because it epitomises your ‘brand’ ethos. For example, if your brand philosophy is clear and precise then you might choose a chair that’s modern and contemporary with straight lines and no frills, however, if your brand is warm and nurturing then you may choose a chair that’s soft, relaxing and can seat both you and the kids.
By branding our home, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to strengthen your work and your business. By nurturing your environment, it will nurture you in return. A home that expresses your personality and your brand will make you feel comfortable and relaxed. This in turn will help to relieve stress and increase your confidence.
Here are my simple and effective designer top tips to brand your home:
COLOUR YOUR BRAND
Using colour is an effective and simple way to brand your home. For example: here’s my office wallpaper. It’s a soft floral design with an iridescent gold background and hues of pink. What does this say about my brand?
When adding colour into any room, firstly choose your colour and then decide how you want your room to feel.
If you want your room to be light and spacious then a dark colour is not recommended. Instead, choose pale or pastel tints of your colour. Think sugar plum fairy.
If you want your room to be warm and cosy then a ‘cool’ colour (blue, green, yellow) is not recommended. Instead, choose a ‘warm’ colour such red, orange or purple. These always remind me of the Morocco.
If you want your room to be energetic and lively then a single colour scheme is not recommended. Instead, choose a contrasting colour scheme with colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel. For example: use green (80%) with red (20%).
If you want your room to be relaxing and homely then a contrasting colour scheme is not recommended. Instead, choose a harmonious colour scheme with colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel. For example: blue (60%) with green (40%).
If you only want to use your single brand colour in the room then I recommend you incorporate shades (darker) and tints (lighter) of the colour to keep the room interesting. For example: pale blue (60%) with mid blue (30%) and dark blue (10%)
STYLE YOUR BRAND
We have a saying that ‘Design is in the Detail’ because it can be the smallest element of interior design that sends subliminal messages to your brain to evoke a reaction.
- The next time you open a door, how does the handle make you feel?
- The next time you sit on a chair, how does the seat and back support make you feel?
- The next time you open the curtains, how does the fabric make you feel?
The style of the items that you choose is wrapped up in how they make you feel.
If you want a warm and nurturing style then you’ll probably select soft fabrics (velvet) and tactile materials (wood). However, if you want an industrial style then you’ll probably choose hard metals (steel) and cool materials (leather).
If you want a glamorous style then you’ll probably choose luxurious fabrics (silk) and sparkly materials (crystal). However, if you want an organic style then you’ll probably choose natural fabrics (linen) and eco materials (wood).
For example: here’s my office telephone. It’s a modern pink telephone fashioned in a traditional style. What does this say about my brand?
SHOWCASE YOUR BRAND
When designing a children’s bedroom, I always make space for their personal treasures. Their treasures might be a dance/football trophy, a school certificate for good work or star of the week, a picture of their favourite band or a collection of shells from their seaside holiday. It’s encouraging for children to have their treasures visible in their bedroom because they evoke precious memories and happy feelings. The feelings help to increase their individual confidence and self worth.
It’s the same with an adult room where our treasures bring back feelings and memories that support our development, nurture our personal growth and increase our self confidence.
For example: here’s my office notice board. It’s full of family photos, messages of love and affection, awards that I’ve won and inspirational sayings. What does this say about my brand?
If you nurture your home with brand colour, style and your treasured possessions then it will reward you with confidence, energy and passion. This in turn will help you express your personality to achieve your personal goals and lifetime ambitions.
If you haven’t guessed already…
my brand colour is:
Pink (feminine & nurturing)
my brand reflects
“Creating memories to Cherish”
****************************
To find out more about Gwendoline and her services, visit www.ga-interiors.co.uk or find her on Twitter @GA_Interiors
