Essex Green vs Thames Fog

Essex GreenBenjamin MoorevsThames FogValsparΔE 38.9Very different colors

Essex Green (Benjamin Moore) and Thames Fog (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. Essex Green reads as green, while Thames Fog reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 22-point LRV gap — 27 for Thames Fog vs 6 for Essex Green — means Thames Fog will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 38.9 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.

Essex Green vs Thames Fog in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Essex Green 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 Essex Green.

Essex GreenBm Essex Green Living Room

@hollie.a.adams

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

Essex GreenBedroom

@kimroraback

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog bedroom review

@thelancashireterrace

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 Essex Green would.

Essex GreenHc-188 Dining Room

@greenpaintandlove

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.

Essex GreenHc-188 Bathroom Paint

@jessicawhite629

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog bathroom review

@bellwaycherry17

Color Details

Essex Green
Benjamin Moore · HC-188
Hex#27362E
LRV5.6
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberHC-188
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark
Thames Fog
Valspar · V144-5
Hex#8f9082
LRV27.4
BrandValspar
NumberV144-5
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium

Essex Green vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Essex Green 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 Essex Green comparisons

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

White Dove
Essex Green
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Essex Green
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Essex Green
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Purbeck Stone
Essex Green
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Essex Green
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Essex Green
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Essex Green
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Essex Green
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Essex Green
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Essex Green
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Essex Green
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Essex Green
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Essex Green
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Cement grey
Essex Green
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Essex Green
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Piazza
Essex Green
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Essex Green
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Essex Green
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane is the lighter choice

Senses
Essex Green
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Essex Green
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Nearly identical in tone

Washed Linen
Essex Green
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Essex Green
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Essex Green
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Classic Silver
Essex Green
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Essex Green
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Essex Green
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

Passageway
Essex Green
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Passageway reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-1
Essex Green
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Essex Green
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

RAL 180-1
Essex Green
RAL 180-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 180-1
LRV 49

RAL 180-1 is the lighter choice