[Addy]

The best advice I can give to you is to look at 16-bit tilesets and try to see what they did and how they did it. Don't steal, obviously, but zoom in, look really closely at those maps, and try to figure out your own approach to it.

Stick with only a couple flat colors at first, and then expand your pallet - SLOWLY. Limit yourself as much as possible. :3 That way when you have a bit more breathing room you can really flourish.