Color is affected by different lighting as well as the different colors next to it and underneath it.

One of my projects in one of my color theory classes at design school was to take two swatches of the same color right next to each other and use different color swatches around those same swatches to make them appear to be different colors even though they were the same-we also did the opposite of this making two different colors look like the same color when they were right next to each other.

My point is that having so many different colors next to each other on the same wall will affect each color making them look different than if you had a white wall and one color swatch on the wall.

I would make sure you start with a white background and then look at the swatches one at a time on the wall without all the other colors surrounding it affecting it. This way you can get a more accurate look with different lighting etc.

For the wall color to look more like the swatch color you would need to start with white primed walls underneath or the previous painted color underneath could affect the new color on top. Also remember lighting will change the color depending on the time of day/night and type of lighting natural or unnatural.

If you like the color you mixed but want it lighter than just make it lighter but keep in mind how the color will dry differently than when it's wet.

Being a painter, it's really amazing how many women I see go through this color sampling craziness when choosing colors. It's not rare at all. One woman took 7 years to choose her kitchen color. One thing you can do is find a C2 dealer and go buy their big color samples. They aren't chips...it's the actual paint applied to a big 11X14 sample. You can move that around instead of applying the actual paint to the walls all over. I actually hate when people have samples painted all over the walls. Most homeowners apply the samples with a brush in the center of the wall and usually those splotches flash through my paintjob! If you don't want to do the C2 thing, you can call Benjamin Moore and have them mail you big 8X10 chips for free. Or, you can just hire a color consultant that may charge 100 bucks or so to pick all the colors in one hour.

Thanks all for the color advice! This process has been a huge learning experience, but I am definitely using a color consultant in the future :) For now, I think I've narrowed down the colors for all but 1 or 2 rooms, so maybe I can move on to other things to obsess over!

Traci, I feel your pain. If it makes you feel any better, I'm going through the EXACT same thing as you, only with looking for the perfect not-too-yellow-not-too-tan-definitely-not-too dark warm neutral for my living room and halls.

I have too many small Benjamin Moore sample jars to count. I've rejected their original contents, cleaned them out, and had them refilled. I've taken in glass spice jars for samples. With Kelly Moore and Sherwin Williams, I've bought a total of 9 quarts.

I'm going through a lot of foamcore board. I start with a small 4x4" square to see if it's got a chance. If I like it, I paint a 12" square, two coats. They get moved all over my living room. If a color is still looking good, I have to paint a small 4" square on the wall (sorry Paintguy). I have knock-down wall texture and it looks different on the wall than it does on the board, and not necessarily better. I have to know the truth.

I've painted squares on 4 different walls. I got so that I didn't notice them anymore. Then I hated looking at them. So, I've painted over (with the original wall color) most of them, except the latest front runners.

This is no fun. Oh, and online color visualizers are absolutely worthless other than to give you a sense of how colors relate to one another. But it doesn't give you a true idea of a color at all.

I figure I've spent close to $200 in samples. In a fit of pique I threw Benjamin Moore Instinct and Shaker Beige together and got a steely gray. Not the color I was looking for. ;-)

I would pay a color consultant $100 to put an end to my misery. With my luck, they'd suggest a peach/pink theme.

Paint your samples on foam board, not directly on the wall. That really helps.

Go over to the Home Decorating Forum on gardenweb and describe the color you are looking for, what you've tried that doesn't work, then ask for suggestions (inc. pix). You'll get lots of help there.

Linelle,
I had a difficult time making up my mind too. My DH has to look at striped walls(his br) because I couldn't choose between SW Ramie or Blonde. I finally went with 50% SW Blond for upstairs & I'll use SW Ramie downstairs. I've only done the upstairs & it looks very warm & I love it. I'll try to take pictures tomorrow. I've been really busy with all this painting. The biggest challenge to me was going back & forth with chosing the right color. I'm so glad it's done.
The decorating forum is wonderful. Many helpful people on there with a photo gallery of colors. Oceanna does them, I think, & it's great to see everyone's colors.

Mistihayes, did you first try a test quart of the 50% SW Blonde? Did you try other percentages before you decided on 50%?