How to Build a Stand-Out Brand Aesthetic: From Color Palette to Canva Designs

In today’s world of endless scrolling and saturated feeds, a strong brand aesthetic is more than just pretty visuals — it’s your first impression, your customer magnet, and your shop’s personality wrapped into color, texture, and type. Whether you’re a small shop owner, a digital creator, or just getting started, creating a cohesive brand look can help you stand out, connect with your audience, and feel proud every time you post or hit publish.

If you’re wondering how to craft a brand aesthetic that actually feels like you, let’s walk through the steps — from choosing your color palette to designing cohesive Canva content that reflects your vibe.

Step 1: Start With the Mood

Before you dive into colors or logos, think about what feeling you want your brand to give off. Is it playful and fun? Soft and serene? Bold and edgy?

At Bloom Society, I knew I wanted something that felt nostalgic, feminine, and creative — like flipping through a 90s sticker book while sipping iced coffee. That feeling became the foundation for every design decision I made.

Action Tip:

Create a private Pinterest board and start pinning anything that visually excites you — interiors, packaging, outfits, typefaces, stickers, color swatches, etc. Patterns will naturally emerge.

Step 2: Build Your Color Palette

Your color palette is the backbone of your brand. It’s the thread that ties your logo, website, product listings, social media, and packaging together.

When building your palette, stick to:

• 1-2 main brand colors

• 2-3 accent colors

• 1-2 neutrals or darks for text/backgrounds

Bloom Society’s Palette leans on retro pastels like muted yellows (#D1D161), warm pinks (#FFBDE8, #FAAB94), sky blues (#99B0ED), and a deep grounding charcoal (#2C2C34). These tones are both playful and calming — which helps reinforce the dreamy vibe of my shop.

Free Tools:

• Coolors – for auto-generating palettes

• Color Hunt – for trend-driven inspiration

• Canva – where you can save your brand kit with HEX codes

Step 3: Choose Fonts With Personality

Fonts add voice to your visuals. Just like colors, they should reflect your brand’s personality.

For example, I use:

• Palmer Lake for that handwritten retro flair

• New Spirit for modern elegance with a vintage twist

• Quicksand for clean, easy-to-read details

Font Pairing Tip: Choose one decorative or personality-driven font, one clean sans serif for body text, and one optional accent font for highlights or headers.

Step 4: Design with Canva Like a Pro

Canva is one of the easiest tools for creating consistent branding without hiring a designer. Once your brand palette and fonts are uploaded, you can create:

• Pinterest pins

• Instagram posts

• Product mockups

• Email graphics

• Website banners

• Stickers, tags, or packaging inserts

Tips for Consistent Canva Designs:

• Create templates you can reuse (this saves SO much time!)

• Use your brand colors in backgrounds, shapes, and text

• Stick to your brand fonts — resist the urge to try new ones all the time

• Use frames and grids to keep visuals clean and structured

• Add your watermark or logo subtly on every piece of content

Step 5: Make It Yours

You don’t have to follow every “rule” to have an effective aesthetic. What makes your brand magnetic is the YOU behind it. Add personal touches — whether it’s the way you speak in captions, a signature design style, or little motifs that pop up in your posts.

Don’t forget: consistency is what creates recognition. When someone sees your post, pin, or product, they should instantly know it’s yours — even without seeing your name.

Final Thoughts

Building a brand aesthetic isn’t about perfection — it’s about intention. With a little bit of planning, some dreamy visuals, and tools like Canva, you can craft a brand that feels like home for both you and your customers.

✨ Want to see it in action? Check out my designs, mockups, and tees in the Bloom Society Shop — where every product is made to bloom with a little personality.