How to Successfully Put Colour Schemes Together (Even If You Think You Don’t Have an Eye for It)
- Hannah Ashe
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
One of the most common things I hear as an interior designer is:
“I just don’t have an eye for colour.”
But here’s the truth: you don’t need a magical design gene to create a beautiful colour scheme. You need a process.
If you’re willing to put in a little time and trust your instincts, you absolutely can pull together colours, patterns and materials that feel cohesive, balanced and completely you.
Here’s the exact four-step method I recommend to clients who want to try it themselves.
Don't have time to try it yourself? Book a video consultation and I can choose your colours for you.
Or, if you enjoy thoughtful, practical design advice like this, I share more every week in my free newsletter.
Step 1: Order samples of everything you’re drawn to
Before you commit to anything, gather physical samples. Seeing colours and patterns on a screen is helpful, but the aspect and lighting in your room will change the way they appear and you need to test how they feel in your house.
Order:
Paint sample cards and/or tester pots
Fabric swatches
Wallpaper samples
Flooring samples (tiles/wood/carpet)
Some great places to start:
Fabric and wallpaper samples from Jane Clayton (up to 5 free samples per order)
Paint cards from Coat Paints (peel and stick samples £2 each)
Mini sample pots from Little Greene Paint Company (£5.75 per pot)
Carpet swatches from Alternative Flooring (£1 each)
Sofa fabric samples from Swyft (up to 6 free samples per order)
Not all samples are free, but it is worth spending a little bit on this stage because if your selection process consists of one trip to B&Q and that's it, there's a strong chance you might regret the choices you've made under the harsh warehouse strip lighting.
Don’t overthink it at this stage. If you’re drawn to a colour or pattern, order it.
This stage is about instinct, not logic.
Step 2: Lay everything out and play
Find a neutral background - a large table, the floor, a plain rug, or even a white sheet or towel.
Now start arranging your samples together.
Move things around. Layer them. Remove one. Add another.
Ask yourself:
Does this combination feel calm?
Energising?
Sophisticated?
Cosy?
Notice I didn’t say “Does this follow colour theory?”
You’re looking for a feeling.
There are no strict rules here. You’re training your eye by observing what works together in real life - texture against texture, matte next to gloss, pattern with plain.
This is how designers actually do it behind the scenes.
If you’d like a professional eye to help refine your combinations before you commit, I offer both in-person and video consultations depending on where you’re based.
Step 3: Narrow it down (and live with it for a bit)
Once you’ve found a few combinations that feel right, start editing.
Be ruthless and only keep the groupings that:
Make you feel happy
Feel appropriate for the room
Create the mood you want in that space
Now take those shortlisted samples and place them in the actual room you’re decorating.
Lean them against the wall. Tape paint cards up. Drape fabric over a chair.
And then… leave them there. Live with them for a few days.
Morning light. Grey afternoon light. Evening lamp light.
Colour is never static. It shifts throughout the day and what looks perfect at 11am might feel very different at 8pm.
This step alone prevents so many expensive mistakes.
Step 4: Revisit and trust your gut
After a few days, come back with fresh eyes and notice your immediate reaction.
Do you still love it? Does anything jar? Does one sample suddenly feel off?
By now, you’ll know.
This process removes panic decisions and replaces them with quiet certainty.
And once you have that certainty?
Be brave. Commit.
Every beautiful home requires that final moment of confidence.
Why this process works (even if you think you’re "bad at colour”)
What you’re doing here is:
Removing pressure
Introducing real materials (not just Pinterest screenshots)
Allowing time for emotional response
Testing combinations in natural light
Editing down intentionally
It’s methodical, but intuitive.
And that’s exactly how strong colour schemes are built.
But what if this feels like too much work?
Let’s be honest - ordering samples, laying them out, testing them for days…
It does take time.
If you love the idea of a beautifully cohesive home but:
You’re busy
You feel overwhelmed by choice
You don’t trust yourself
Or you simply don’t have the patience
That’s where I come in.
As an interior designer, I do this process for you. I have a huge bank of samples that I bring to your home. I refine, edit, balance tones, layer texture and ensure everything works not just individually, but as a complete scheme tailored to your home and lifestyle.
You skip the stress. You avoid costly mistakes. And you gain a space that feels effortlessly pulled together.
Final Thoughts: You probably do have an eye for it
Most people don’t lack taste, they lack a process.
Follow these four steps and you’ll be amazed at what you can create.
And if halfway through you decide you’d rather hand it over to a professional?
You know where to find me.
Or, if you're still gathering ideas, you can join my free weekly newsletter here.
Hannah Ashe is the founder of Hannah Ashe Interior Design, helping homeowners across London and Surrey create calm, characterful spaces with confidence. With a background in music and years of hands-on renovation experience, she approaches interiors with an intuitive sense of balance, rhythm and flow.
She offers in-person and virtual consultations, and will be at the Ideal Home Show on 16th and 17th April for bookable one-to-one sessions.
