Reef Blue vs Thames Fog

Reef BlueBehrvsThames FogValsparΔE 26.6Very different colors

Reef Blue (Behr) and Thames Fog (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Reef Blue belongs to the blue family and Thames Fog to the grey family. The 17-point LRV gap — 45 for Reef Blue vs 27 for Thames Fog — means Reef Blue will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 26.6 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.

Reef Blue vs Thames Fog in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Reef 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. Reef Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Thames Fog.

Reef BlueBehr Reef Blue living room interior

Visualization

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog living room inspiration

@melaniejadedesign

Bedroom

Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Reef Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Reef BlueBehr Reef Blue bedroom

Visualization

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog bedroom review

@thelancashireterrace

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. Reef Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Reef BlueBehr Reef Blue bathroom

Visualization

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. Reef Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Reef BlueBehr Reef Blue kitchen cabinets

Visualization

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog kitchen cabinets

@bh_paintingdecorating

Color Details

Reef Blue
Behr · S490-3
Hex#93bdcf
LRV44.9
BrandBehr
NumberS490-3
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Thames Fog
Valspar · V144-5
Hex#8f9082
LRV27.4
BrandValspar
NumberV144-5
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium

Reef Blue vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Reef 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 Reef Blue comparisons

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

White Dove
Reef Blue
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Reef Blue
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

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

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

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

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

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

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Reef Blue
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

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

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Reef Blue
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Reef Blue
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Reef Blue
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Reef Blue
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Reef Blue
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Reef Blue
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Reef Blue
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Reef Blue
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Piazza
Reef Blue
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Reef Blue
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
Reef Blue
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Reef Blue
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Reef Blue reads slightly lighter

Lamp Black
Reef Blue
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Reef Blue
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads slightly lighter

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

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Reef Blue
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Reef Blue
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Reef Blue
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

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

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

Passageway
Reef Blue
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

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

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Reef Blue
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

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

RAL 180-1 reads slightly lighter