RAL 860-5 vs Thames Fog
RAL 860-5 (RAL Effect) and Thames Fog (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. The 8-point LRV gap — 27 for Thames Fog vs 20 for RAL 860-5 — means Thames Fog will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 11.0 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.
RAL 860-5 vs Thames Fog in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 860-5 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 reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Thames Fog has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
RAL 860-5 vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 860-5 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 RAL 860-5 comparisons
See how RAL 860-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
