Smoky Tone vs Thames Fog
Smoky Tone (Cloverdale Paint) and Thames Fog (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 9-point LRV gap — 36 for Smoky Tone vs 27 for Thames Fog — means Smoky Tone will open up a space more effectively. ΔE 10.0 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Smoky Tone vs Thames Fog in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Smoky Tone and Thames Fog are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
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. Smoky Tone reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Thames Fog.
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. Smoky Tone returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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 Smoky Tone will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Thames Fog would.
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. Smoky Tone returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Smoky Tone vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smoky Tone 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 Smoky Tone comparisons
See how Smoky Tone stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
