Paint charts lie a little. They show colours under perfect lighting on tiny squares. On your actual wall, with your light and furniture, the same shade can look completely different.
That’s why sample patches are a lifesaver. Before committing to 10 litres of paint, buy a small can or tester and apply it directly onto your wall. Do at least two coats in a decent-sized patch—say 2×2 feet.
Check how it looks at different times of day: morning light, afternoon, evening with lights on. Some colours look fresh in daylight but turn dull or too yellow at night.
Test near different surfaces—next to white ceilings, dark floors, or wood furniture. You’ll see how the colour interacts rather than just how it looks alone.
If you’re torn between two or three close shades, patch all of them side by side. Often, the “right” one becomes obvious once you see them on your wall rather than in a catalogue.
Those extra two days of testing can save you from living for years with a colour that never quite felt right.