Black Iron vs Thames Fog
Where Black Iron belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Thames Fog is a Valspar color. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Thames Fog (LRV 27) reflects noticeably more light than Black Iron (LRV 6), a difference of 21 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 35.4, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black Iron vs Thames Fog in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Black Iron 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.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Thames Fog reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Iron.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Thames Fog reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Iron.
Color Details
Black Iron vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Iron on one side and Thames Fog on the other.
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 Black Iron comparisons
See how Black Iron stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
