Choosing a Color Palette That Feels Like You: A Beginner’s Guide

July 01, 20252 min read

How to Build Color Confidence as a Creative Mom

If color choices leave you frozen, overwhelmed, or doubting your instincts—you’re not alone.

I used to feel “bad at color.” As a self-taught artist, I wanted bold, joyful palettes… but the sea of options left me stuck. Then one day, I picked out all the colors that made me happy—and everything changed. My art started to reflect me.

Let me show you how to build color confidence in a gentle, intuitive way—especially if you're navigating creativity in the messy middle of motherhood.

Start with What You Already Love

Your favorite colors are already speaking to you.

Look around you.
Your home, your clothes, your saved Pinterest pins—they’re full of clues. What colors are you naturally drawn to, over and over again? Take a photo of your space or scroll your camera roll. You’re likely to find a pattern.

Use memories as inspiration.
One of my favorite palettes came from a spring walk with my kids. I snapped a photo of my son holding a yellow dandelion against his teal jacket. Later, I pulled the colors into Procreate—soft green, warm gold, pale sky blue, gentle coral. It felt like joy bottled up.

Trust your joy.
“I picked colors that made me happy. From there, I trusted my joy—and that changed everything.”

Understand Color Harmony (Gently)

You don’t need a design degree to make beautiful palettes.

Harmony = how colors play together.
Try one of these approachable combos:

  • Analogous (colors next to each other): calming and soft

  • Complementary (across from each other): bold and energetic

  • Monochromatic (one hue in multiple shades): simple and cohesive

Think of it like a mood.
Some colors hug each other. Others dance. What energy do you want your piece to carry—calm, joy, whimsy, strength? Let that guide your palette.

Confidence through constraint.
Use 6 colors max + 2 neutrals. Choose a lead, an accent, and a few support tones. Less = more flow.

Use Simple Tools to Play & Save

Color should feel playful—not pressured.

My tools of choice:

  • Procreate swatches

  • Photos from my camera roll

  • Coolors.co or Adobe Color for quick exploration

How I organize palettes:
I label colors I love across the rainbow—my go-to yellow, the green I always use. Then I mix seasonal or story-based palettes around those core favorites.

Play first, polish later.
“Limiting my palette gave me freedom. I no longer felt overwhelmed—I just started flowing.”

Want to Try This Together?

If you’ve ever felt like color just isn’t your strength—this is your sign that you can learn through joy.

🎁 Join my free Seamless Pattern Starter Course and get a gentle jumpstart with:

  • My personal 5-color starter palette

  • Step-by-step help designing your first repeat pattern in Procreate

First step? Open Procreate and pick 3 colors that make you smile. That’s all. You’ve begun.

🖌️ You’re not behind. You’re building something real.
🎨 [Join the free course here] 🌟

Aysa is a full-time mom, freelance artist, surface pattern designer, author, food lover and animal enthusiast.

Aysa Zebekow

Aysa is a full-time mom, freelance artist, surface pattern designer, author, food lover and animal enthusiast.

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