Go to a hardward store and get some of those paint strips. The kind with different shades of the same color. Pick several of your favorite colors and several of your least favorite. Then get cream, brown, gray and black. Take them home and play with them. Each time you're in the store get a few more. Keep color combinations you like together and take them to the fabric store. You'll be teaching yourself how to look at color with out having to buy expensive fabric.