Watch the light before moving the furniture

Spend a little time looking at the room in the morning and again later in the day. Notice where the light falls and which surfaces reflect it. This is often more useful than choosing a new colour from a small sample.

Try moving a single chair or a side table before making a larger change. A clear route through the room and a comfortable place to put a book can make the space easier to use.

Take a photograph from the same spot after each change. The images do not need to be polished; they simply make small differences easier to compare.