OK, everyone that's read my posts know what I'm going to say about the perfect Neutral/Tan/creamy Yellowish paint color.

So com'on everyone, say it with me! *grin*

Pony Tail - Lowes Olympic Paint card #C15-3
We had ours mixed BEHR.

It's creamy/tan/yellow tinty enough that I am in the process of using it throughout my home for all the trimwork and doors.
Goes on looking way too dark if it's up against white.
But once another color is put against it, it's perfect! (at least for us and we tried at last count 13 colors that we had thought were creamy neutral/Tan/Yellowish tint.)

Can't say enough about how Pony Tail seems to blend so well with whatever color I'm using in a specific room.

Ponytail looks very nice next to a creamy ivory they have at Lowe's called Crescent Moon. When you go in the store, look at the Olympic display and pick up a brochure titled "A Shade Borrowed from Nature" and you'll see them together.

I just painted a 1000 sq. feet with Pittsfield Buff...it's soo close to Ivoire...just a pinch deeper..but I have to admit on so much wall space it comes off as gold toned definitely...I love it but if you're going for more neutral I don't think you'd like it...not too crazy about mixing it with Softer Tan because it's not enough contrast...if you're going to use two colors then do a softer tan then go one up on the darker scale and choose that color...

Tara

Thanks for the suggestions so far, I'm really bad at picking colors.

I'm not sure if I was unclear, but I wasn't planning on mixing Softer Tan and Ivoire in the same rooms, but instead putting Softer Tan in the foyer and Ivoire in the adjoining family room.

Do you still think they wouldn't go together? I'm not really worried that they wouldn't contrast enough, because I was originally thinking about just using one color for both rooms. I was more concerned that they would clash since one's really neutral/light brown and one's yellowish. Hope that made sense.

I just tried it out on the SW Color visualizer and it looks pretty good together...at least in virtual land! Have you played around with the Sherwin Williams site? It helps a bit.

I have 708 Pale Gold 2 (Laura Ashley, available at Lowes) in my home. It's a light, toned-down, very neutral shade, but still gives a warm feeling in the room. I have art work with every color imaginable and this paint goes with it all.

I have Softer Tan up my back stairs and love it. But... it takes on a realy greenish tone in certain light so be aware of this. I fell in love with Softer Tan when I saw it in a model home but it looked kinda yellow in that house. I love this about the color but it may not work for you. I have Blonde @ 50% in our sunroom which is my DH's office and it's beautiful. A very creamy yellow without being baby chick yellow. To answer your other question, yes, I think you can use both colors in different rooms. Just remember Softer Tan can look kinda greenish (but a lovely greenish it is!).

Using them both together, I don't think I'd like it as well..only because they carry different hues...I don't mind using two colors on the same "card" a lighter and then a tone darker...but when you go to another card and it's also a neutral...I think it's hard to make it work....like orie said there are different undertones and might compete when you're trying to decorate around them....I would pick one or the other...and then go a shade lighter in one room if you like..
Tara

I'm one over from Ivoire on the SW strips -- I have SW Ecru (darker) with SW Netsuke (lighter). Then, I use SW Netsuke with SW Muslin (lightest and closest to being tan).

This is SW Ecru up close showing fairly true to reality in the photo:

These colors have green undertones -- if you put green fabric up next to it, it looks gold. If you put gold fabric next to it, it looks green.

Muslin is a great light warm tan color and I've used it on most of my ceilings. It also looks great with white or SW Grassland (green).

I painted my MBR BM Philadelphia Cream. I think it looks great with white trim. It's just a very soft neutral creamy yellow. Good luck!

I'm planning to paint my living room/foyer SW Blonde which is on the same strip as Ivoire, just one shade darker. I would definitely say Ivoire over Softer Tan because I'm more a gold person & Softer Tan looks too traditional for my tastes, but that could be the look you're going for. I personally wouldn't put the two together, like was mentioned, two neutrals with different tones doesn't really work.

We painted the majority of our house SW "Blonde," and went a tad darker with SW "Mannered Gold" for the foyer and bathrooms. We love both and have received tons of compliments on the colors and have not even moved into the house yet!