Smalt vs Thames Fog
Smalt (Little Greene) and Thames Fog (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Smalt belongs to the blue family and Thames Fog to the grey family. The 21-point LRV gap — 27 for Thames Fog vs 6 for Smalt — means Thames Fog will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 51.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Smalt vs Thames Fog in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Smalt 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 Smalt.
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.
Color Details
Smalt vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smalt 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 Smalt comparisons
See how Smalt stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
