Special Gray vs Thames Fog
Special Gray (Sherwin-Williams) 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 19 for Special Gray — means Thames Fog will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 13.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Special Gray vs Thames Fog in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Special 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
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 Special Gray.
Color Details
Special Gray vs Thames Fog Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Special 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 Special Gray comparisons
See how Special Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
