Link Gray vs Thames Fog
Where Link Gray belongs to Sherwin-Williams's range, Thames Fog is a Valspar color. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Thames Fog (LRV 27) reflects noticeably more light than Link Gray (LRV 21), a difference of 7 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 6.9 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Link Gray vs Thames Fog in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Link Gray 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.
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. Thames Fog reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Thames Fog reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Link Gray vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Link Gray 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 Link Gray comparisons
See how Link Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
