Hello lovely,
It’s Tash here, popping into your inbox with a mug of tea and a heart full of colour inspiration.
Before we dive in, I have something really special to share — I’m hosting a live webinar on Colour Confidence on May 27th! If you’ve ever wished you could pick my brain in real time, this is your chance. We’ll be talking all things colour: how to choose palettes with confidence, avoid common mistakes, and create a home that truly feels like you. I’d absolutely love for you to join me. Click the link below to register and save your spot!
Every week, I get so many messages from you — some excited, some frustrated, all searching for that magic feeling when a room just clicks. So often, the reason people get in touch with me is after they’ve decorated their home and something doesn’t feel ‘right’. It’s not the room that I had dreamed of.
And what I’ve always noticed - it’s always the same handful of mistakes that trip us up. I’ve seen them in consultations, in DMs, and honestly, in my own home too.
I want to start with a story from my own home-Zac’s playroom. It’s a north-facing room, and if I’d listened to the usual design advice, I’d have gone dark and moody.
But that’s not us.
Zac is an early riser, so I am too! We spend our mornings, normally from 5.30 am, together in his room. I didn’t want to sit in a dark room. I wanted it to feel light and fresh when the sun comes up, but also soft and glowy in the evening when Sam and I unwind with Zac after work.
I had to really think about all the elements in the room, the wall, the ceiling, and the window. How am I going to make this feel as big as possible? How am I going to make this feel as bright as possible? How am I going to create a happy space? A space where we all want to hang out in the early mornings with a cup of tea and Lego.
This is what we did. We’ve painted the ceiling in a warm yellow undertoned blue, with white walls that also had a yellow undertone, and a soft terracotta red window. It’s playful, bright, and feels just right for our family. Instead of copying a Pinterest image, I thought about how we actually live in that room, the feeling I wanted, and how the light moves through the space. That’s what made it work for us.
I could have easily made a mistake in here. Made it feel gloomy and a space none of us wanted to hang out in. Instead, it’s one of my favourite rooms in our home.
Mistakes are so easy to make when decorating, but I am here to help you avoid them. So let’s talk about the eight key mistakes I see time and time again.
If you’re feeling like your room just isn’t coming together, I promise you’re not alone and if you’re nodding along, you’re in good company.
Let’s talk through these mistakes, not like a rulebook, but as a guide.
1. Forgetting how YOU want to feel
Colour isn’t just about what looks good; it’s about how you want to feel in your space. Every colour has the power to influence your mood and energy: blues can calm, yellows can uplift, greens can ground you, and reds can energise.
Before you pick up a paintbrush, ask yourself: what do I want from this room? Do I need it to soothe me at the end of a long day, or fill me with energy in the morning? When you match your palette to the emotion you want to create, your home truly starts to support your wellbeing and happiness.
Make sure you ask yourself these questions before you start your project.
2. Not Sampling Colours in Your Own Home
Please, please, please-don’t skip this step! I know it’s tempting to pick a colour at a store like B&Q or copy the exact colour from an Instagram post you’ve bookmarked. But that room is not your room. And that artificial light in the store is not the light in your home (thankfully!).
The way a colour looks in your space, with your morning sun or cosy evening lamps, and with your furnishings is everything. I always say: make a moodboard with real samples, tape them up, and live with them for a few days. See how they feel in your home, not just in the shop.
Don’t just look a look at a tiny paint sample either, use peel-stick swatches so you can move them around your room, or paint sheets of A4 paper so you can tape them up. Move them into the corner, next to the window, to the centre of the wall. See what they look like throughout the day (and in different weather if possible!)
This isn’t just about paint. It’s about your sofa and curtain samples. Even your floor samples too. So sample everything in the room you are planning on decorating.
3. Using the Wrong Undertone
This one is sneaky. Two whites can look so different depending on their undertones. It can catch anyone off guard.
You might think, “White is white, blue is blue,” but undertones are the secret sauce that can completely change how a colour feels in your space. Two whites side by side can look worlds apart-one might have a touch of yellow, making it feel warm and sunny, while another might have a blue or grey undertone, giving it a cooler, crisper vibe. The same goes for blues, greens, greys-every colour has its own subtle undertone that can make or break your scheme.
In Zac’s playroom, I knew I wanted the space to feel warm and cheerful, especially since it’s north-facing and could easily feel cold. So, I chose a blue and a white, both with yellow undertones. That little detail made all the difference-the room feels bright and inviting, not chilly or stark.
Always, always check the undertone of your paint samples. Hold them up against your furniture, your flooring, and even your fabrics. And don’t forget to see how they look in your room’s natural and artificial light! A white that looks perfect in the shop might suddenly look a bit green or pink once it’s on your wall at home.
If you’re ever unsure, compare your chosen colour to a true white or a pure primary colour-you’ll spot those undertones straight away. Trust your eye, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Getting the undertones right is the secret to a room that feels beautifully put together, not just “almost there.”
4. Seeing Paint in Isolation
Now, let’s talk about one of the sneakiest little traps I see people fall into: picking your paint colour all on its own, as if it’s the main character and nothing else matters. I get it-it’s so easy to think that the perfect paint will somehow pull everything together and make the whole room sing. But honestly, colour never works in isolation. It just doesn’t!
A colour doesn’t live alone. It sits next to your sofa, your curtains, your art, and your floors. Always look at your paint with the other elements in the room. Lay them all out together, like a little family.
Does your wall colour make your sofa pop, or does it feel a bit flat? Does your rug suddenly look muddy, or does it sing? That’s where the magic happens: when every element in the room is working together, not fighting for attention.
5. Playing It Too Safe
I get it-safe feels, well, safe. I see it all the time-and trust me, you’re not alone. We’ve all reached for those “safe” shades: the whites, greys, and gentle neutrals that feel like a warm hug and promise we can’t get it wrong. But so often, I meet clients who’ve played it safe and now feel like their home is missing that little spark of personality. They want more joy, more energy, more them.
Playing it safe means you end up with a room that doesn’t feel like you. Take a little risk! Try that bold accent, or that unexpected ceiling colour. It’s only paint. You can always change it, but you might just fall in love.
Inspiration is everywhere, and being brave with colour doesn’t mean you have to go wild all at once. Start by noticing what catches your eye, maybe its the scheme in your favourite cafe, or the colours of a woodland walk. Or how about flicking through a magazine, or checking out Pinterest? But ultimately it’s about finding why you are drawn to something, and you can check out my handy Pinterest guide here on this subject.
6. Overlooking the Ceiling (& Trim)
The ceiling isn’t just something to ignore!
It’s your room’s fifth wall, and it can totally transform a space. A bright white ceiling is normally the default but it doesn’t have to be.
Paint the ceiling in a complementary colour, or a softer shade of your walls, or even colour drenching the entire space. This will drastically change the room and how it feels, and is normally the missing element in most room schemes.
7. Ignoring the Light
Let’s have a real chat about light, because honestly, it’s the secret ingredient that can make or break your colour choices. Both natural sunlight and your lamps in the evening can completely transform the way a colour looks in your home.
I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard, “But it looked perfect on Instagram!” or “It was so lovely in my friend’s house!” – but your home is unique, and your light is too.
North-facing, south-facing, big windows, tiny nooks- it all changes how colour behaves. Work with your light, not against it.
Spend a couple of days living with your samples. Watch how they change from morning to afternoon to evening, especially during the times you’re actually in that room. Move your samples around – put one near the window, one in a shady corner, one by the door. You’ll be amazed at how different they can look!
Taking this little bit of extra time to really get to know your light will save you from any “oh no, what have I done?” moments once the paint is dry. Trust me, your future self will thank you!
8. Decorating for Someone Else, Not You
This is my favourite. Dance like no one’s watching-decorate like no one’s judging. Your home is your sanctuary.
It should make you feel good. Not your mum, not your neighbour, not your mates and definitely not faceless people on Instagram. When you decorate for yourself, you’ll actually want to spend time there, host, relax, and just be.
It’s your house, so do what you want!
Your home, your rules.
If you’re feeling stuck, I hope this gives you a gentle nudge to try something new, or to trust yourself a little more. Your home should be your happy place.
And if you have made any of these mistakes, it’s just paint! Try again, and use the guidance above.
If you ever need a little pep talk, you know where to find me.
With love,
Tash x