Escape Gray vs Thames Fog

Escape GraySherwin-WilliamsvsThames FogValsparΔE 10.6Distinct difference

Where Escape Gray belongs to Sherwin-Williams'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. Escape Gray (LRV 41) reflects noticeably more light than Thames Fog (LRV 27), a difference of 13 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 10.6, 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 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Escape Gray vs Thames Fog in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Escape Gray 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

In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Escape Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Thames Fog would.

Escape GrayEscape Gray Living Room

@mybudgetrecipes

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog living room inspiration

@melaniejadedesign

Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Escape Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Thames Fog.

Escape GraySherwin Williams Escape Gray bedroom photo

@movedhouse

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog bedroom review

@thelancashireterrace

Bathroom

Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Escape Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Thames Fog.

Escape GraySherwin Williams SW 6185 painted cabinets paint review

@our_farmhouse_family

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog bathroom review

@bellwaycherry17

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Escape Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Thames Fog.

Escape GraySherwin Williams Escape Gray kitchen cabinets photo

@sherwinwilliams

Thames FogValspar Thames Fog kitchen cabinets

@bh_paintingdecorating

Color Details

Escape Gray
Sherwin-Williams · 6185
Hex#ABAC9F
LRV40.7
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6185
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Thames Fog
Valspar · V144-5
Hex#8f9082
LRV27.4
BrandValspar
NumberV144-5
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium

Escape Gray vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Escape Gray 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 Escape Gray comparisons

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

White Dove
Escape Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Escape Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Escape Gray
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Escape Gray
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
Escape Gray
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Escape Gray reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Escape Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Escape Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Escape Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Escape Gray reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Escape Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Escape Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Escape Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Escape Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Escape Gray reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Escape Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Escape Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Escape Gray reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Escape Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Escape Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Escape Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Escape Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Escape Gray reads slightly lighter

Senses
Escape Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
Escape Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Escape Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads noticeably lighter

Tea with Florence
Escape Gray
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Escape Gray reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Escape Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Escape Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Escape Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Escape Gray reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Escape Gray
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

Passageway
Escape Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Escape Gray
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Escape Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

RAL 180-1
Escape Gray
RAL 180-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 180-1
LRV 49

RAL 180-1 reads slightly lighter