Midnight Blue vs Thames Fog

Midnight BlueBehrvsThames FogValsparΔE 26.9Very different colors

Midnight Blue (Behr) and Thames Fog (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. Midnight Blue reads as blue-grey, while Thames Fog reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 18-point LRV gap — 27 for Thames Fog vs 9 for Midnight Blue — means Thames Fog will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 26.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Midnight Blue vs Thames Fog in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Midnight Blue and Thames Fog in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Living Room

A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Thames Fog reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Midnight Blue.

Midnight BlueBehr N480-7 hallway color

@foxandcrowwellfleet

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog living room inspiration

@melaniejadedesign

Dining Room

Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that Thames Fog will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Midnight Blue would.

Midnight BlueBehr Midnight Blue dining room and ceiling

@creatingcasita

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog dining room photo

@renovations_at31

Bathroom

Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Thames Fog returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Midnight BlueBehr Midnight Blue bathroom vanity paint

@mallorypaeper

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog bathroom review

@bellwaycherry17

Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Thames Fog returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Midnight BlueBehr Midnight Blue kitchen cabinets

@samuraifinefinishings

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog kitchen cabinets

@bh_paintingdecorating

Color Details

Midnight Blue
Behr · N480-7
Hex#4c565e
LRV9.1
BrandBehr
NumberN480-7
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark
Thames Fog
Valspar · V144-5
Hex#8f9082
LRV27.4
BrandValspar
NumberV144-5
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium

Midnight Blue vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Midnight Blue on one side and Thames Fog on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.

More Midnight Blue comparisons

See how Midnight Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Midnight Blue
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Midnight Blue
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Midnight Blue
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Midnight Blue reads slightly lighter

Purbeck Stone
Midnight Blue
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Midnight Blue
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Midnight Blue
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Midnight Blue
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Midnight Blue
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Midnight Blue
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Midnight Blue
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Midnight Blue
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Nearly identical in tone

Pale Green
Midnight Blue
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Midnight Blue
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Cement grey
Midnight Blue
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Midnight Blue
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Piazza
Midnight Blue
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Midnight Blue
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Midnight Blue
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Midnight Blue
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Midnight Blue
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Midnight Blue reads slightly lighter

Washed Linen
Midnight Blue
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Midnight Blue
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Midnight Blue
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Classic Silver
Midnight Blue
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Midnight Blue
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Midnight Blue
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

Passageway
Midnight Blue
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Passageway reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-1
Midnight Blue
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Midnight Blue
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

RAL 180-1
Midnight Blue
RAL 180-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 180-1
LRV 49

RAL 180-1 is the lighter choice