Morning Fog vs Steely Gray
Morning Fog and Steely Gray come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. The 11-point LRV gap — 42 for Morning Fog vs 30 for Steely Gray — means Morning Fog will open up a space more effectively. Both share a neutral character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. ΔE 8.7 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Morning Fog vs Steely Gray in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Morning Fog and Steely Gray 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. Morning Fog reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Steely Gray.
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. Morning Fog returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Morning 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
Morning Fog vs Steely Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Morning Fog on one side and Steely Gray 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 Morning Fog comparisons
See how Morning Fog stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 42, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 42), opening up a space where Morning Fog encloses it.
Morning Fog reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (52 vs 42) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
A 11-point LRV gap (42 vs 30) makes Morning Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 42), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 60 vs 42, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 42), opening up a space where Morning Fog encloses it.
Morning Fog reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 42), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 42 vs 4, Morning Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 42), opening up a space where Morning Fog encloses it.
Morning Fog reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
With LRVs of 44 and 42, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 42, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 21, Morning Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 42), opening up a space where Morning Fog encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 42), opening up a space where Morning Fog encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 42), opening up a space where Morning Fog encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (51 vs 42) makes Pigeon the marginally brighter of the two.
Morning Fog reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Morning Fog reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 42), opening up a space where Morning Fog encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 42 vs 41), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Morning Fog reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 42), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 11-point LRV gap (42 vs 31) makes Morning Fog the marginally brighter of the two.