I’ve been testing London Fog paint in my home for the past six months. Now, I want to share everything I’ve learned about this beautiful shade.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What London Fog actually looks like in real homes
- Which rooms work best with this color
- Colors that pair perfectly with it
- How to test it properly before buying
I’ve used this paint in both north—and south-facing rooms and watched how it changes from morning to evening. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to.
My walls have been London Fog for over half a year now. I know how it holds up and how it feels to live with it every day. Let’s see if this soft gray is right for your home.
What Kind of Color Is London Fog (1541)?
London Fog (1541) is a soft, light gray with subtle blue-green undertones. It’s a gentle color that adds a calm, welcoming feeling without being too cold or stark. I think of it as the color of morning mist with just a hint of warmth.
I’ve noticed it shifts throughout the day. In morning light, the warm aspects become clearer and more noticeable. By afternoon, it takes on a more neutral quality that feels balanced and soothing.
The color has an LRV (Light Reflectance Value) of 56.44, placing it in the medium-light range. This means it reflects a good amount of light while still adding some depth to spaces. The balanced nature of London Fog makes it excellent for creating rooms that feel both bright and comfortable.
What makes London Fog stand out is how it adapts to its surroundings. In some spaces, it appears more beige, while in others, the blue-green aspects become more visible. This flexibility helps it work well in many settings and with various home styles.
What Rooms Work Best with London Fog?
London Fog (Benjamin Moore 1541) is a versatile light to medium gray with subtle warm undertones. It works well in many spaces but truly shines in these rooms such as:
Living Rooms
This color makes living areas feel bright and welcoming without being too stark. It creates a soft background that allows furniture and art to stand out.
In my living room, London Fog walls make the space feel open while highlighting my navy sofa and dark wooden accent pieces. The color works especially well in both large and medium living spaces.
In larger rooms, it helps create a sense of cohesion and flow. In medium rooms, it adds a calming effect without feeling too bland when paired with the right accessories.
Bedrooms
The soft gray tones make bedrooms feel calm and relaxing. This color creates a peaceful background that helps with rest and sleep.
In my main bedroom, I paired London Fog with white bedding and dark wood tones for a retreat that feels both bright and balanced. The color also tends to make bedrooms feel more spacious and restful.
The subtle blue-green undertones create a sense of coolness that many people find helpful for sleep environments. Since painting my bedroom this shade, I’ve found that it feels more organized and peaceful.
Dining Rooms
London Fog shines in dining rooms, where it creates a bright, clean feel. The subtle undertones complement wooden tables perfectly while adding more interest than plain white walls.
My dining room in this shade feels much more custom and thoughtful than it did with basic white walls. In dining rooms with natural light, the color takes on a beautiful glow that changes throughout the day. Even in dining rooms without windows, it helps create a bright feeling when paired with good lighting.
Home Offices
The color helps create focus without being distracting. The soft gray feels professional yet calming during work hours. I painted my home office in this shade and find it makes the perfect background for video calls while keeping me focused.
London Fog is particularly effective in offices that need to feel bright and organized. The color seems to reduce visual stress and create a sense of calm. I’ve noticed I feel more productive in my London Fog office compared to my previous white workspace.
Kitchens
London Fog adds subtle depth to kitchens without competing with cabinets or backsplashes. It creates a clean feeling that still feels warm and bright. My friend painted her kitchen this color with white cabinets, creating a balanced look that still has character.
The color works well with both white and wood cabinets, making it very flexible for most kitchen styles. It adds just enough color to feel interesting without taking away from other kitchen elements.
What Colors Go Well with London Fog?
- Navy blue: It creates a classic, timeless contrast
- Soft sage: Offers a natural companion that feels fresh
- Crisp white: Complements the light tones beautifully
- Dark wood tones: Add depth and balance to the soft gray
- Brass or chrome: Metal finishes that enhance the subtle undertones
For my living room, I combined London Fog walls with white trim and dark wood furniture. The combination feels both fresh and grounded.
What Style Works Well With This Color?
London Fog adapts to many design styles. In coastal homes, it brings in a subtle coolness that feels natural. For modern spaces, it creates a clean canvas that lets minimalist furniture stand out.
In transitional settings, it offers a fresh update while respecting classic elements. Most impressively, London Fog works well in traditional homes by adding lightness to formal furniture.
My own home mixes modern items with more traditional ones, and this color creates the perfect subtle background for both. This flexibility makes it a smart choice if you like to change your decor or mix elements from different styles.
Is It a Warm or Cool Color?
London Fog is a balanced neutral that leans slightly cool. The blue-green undertones give it that cool, calming feeling. I’d describe it as “softly cool” – not the kind that makes a room feel too stark or clinical.
The subtle warm aspects keeps it from feeling too cool. This balance makes it work well year-round in most homes. Despite being slightly cool, it doesn’t feel unwelcoming or sterile like some grays can.
The medium-light value softens the coolness, making it more livable for everyday spaces. In rooms with lots of natural light, especially south-facing rooms, the coolness helps balance the warmth of the light throughout the day.
If you’re worried about a space feeling too cool, I’ve found that adding warm elements like wood tones, cream textiles, or gold fixtures creates the perfect balance. In my living room, the London Fog walls look beautiful with my wood coffee table and warm lighting from brass lamps.
Color Characteristics Table
| Characteristic | London Fog | What This Means For Your Space |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Slightly Cool | Creates a calm, soothing atmosphere |
| Undertones | Blue-green | Adds subtle depth without being too cold |
| Light Reflectance Value | 56.44 | Medium-light tone that balances brightness and depth |
| Seasonal Feel | Year-round | Works well in both winter and summer settings |
| North vs. South Rooms | Adaptable | Appears more gray in north-facing rooms, more warm in south-facing rooms |
How to Test This Color in Your Space?
- Buy a sample: Get a small container of London Fog
- Paint a board: Use a 2×2 foot piece of white poster board
- Move it around: See how it looks in different locations at different times of day
- Live with it for 3 days: Your first impression might change
When I tested London Fog, I was surprised by how different it looked from morning to evening. In my north-facing bedroom, it appeared more gray. In my south-facing living room, the warm aspects were more noticeable.
What Paint Finish Should You Choose?
- Flat: Good for ceilings or very smooth walls
- Matte: My top choice for most walls – the soft color looks clean without glare
- Eggshell: This works in kitchens and bathrooms where you need to clean walls
- Satin: Adds a slight sheen, could make the color look cooler than expected
- Semi-gloss: Too shiny for London Fog walls, but works for trim and doors
I used matte in my bedroom and eggshell in my kitchen. The eggshell finish makes cleaning easier without adding too much shine that would change how the color looks.
Real Home Ideas Using London Fog
I’ve gathered these ideas from my own home and friends’ houses:
- Full room: London Fog on all walls creates a consistent, bright feeling
- Accent wall: Used on one wall with white walls for a hint of color
- Trim: Using it on trim with darker walls creates a subtle, custom look
- Furniture: A bookcase or side table painted this shade adds a soft touch
- Exterior: Works beautifully as an exterior body color with white trim
My sister painted all her dining room walls London Fog with a white trim, creating a custom look that feels both clean and fresh. It looks amazing and has inspired me to think about using it in more areas of my home.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve made some mistakes with this color. Learn from my experience:
- Using cool-toned lighting with London Fog: Cold bulbs can make this color look too blue. Stick with warm white bulbs (2700-3000K) to showcase its true balanced beauty.
- Not testing in your actual space: This color changes with lighting conditions. I was surprised how different it looked in my north-facing bedroom versus my south-facing living room. Always test a large sample in your own space.
- Using too many cool accessories: This creates a room that feels too cold. Mix in some warm woods, creams, or brass accents for balance.
- Expecting it to look exactly like online photos: Every screen shows colors differently, and professional images are often edited. The only way to know how it will look in your home is to test it yourself.
- Using it in very dark rooms without adding extra lighting: In rooms with minimal natural light, London Fog can look too flat without proper lighting support.
Why People Like London Fog?
London Fog has become popular among many homeowners, and I understand why. Its soft balance creates spaces with character while still feeling very livable. People like it because it’s not a typical gray—it has personality without being hard to use.
The color creates clean spaces that still feel warm. It works with many decorating styles and doesn’t date quickly like bolder colors might. Whether in natural or artificial light, it maintains its character while shifting subtly throughout the day, keeping spaces interesting.
Conclusion
So, is London Fog worth it? In my opinion, absolutely. After testing this paint in various rooms and lighting conditions, I can confidently say it’s one of the most versatile gray options from Benjamin Moore.
But remember – no paint is perfect for every space. London Fog works best in:
- Rooms with good natural light
- Spaces where you want a calm, sophisticated vibe
- Areas that connect to rooms with warmer colors
The right gray depends on your specific space and taste. Trust your gut feeling when you see it on your walls. What I love most about London Fog is its flexibility.
It creates a beautiful backdrop that lets your furniture and décor shine without stealing the show. Give London Fog a try if you want a reliable, versatile gray that won’t go out of style anytime soon. Your walls will thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does It Compare to Other Light Grays?
London Fog’s blue-green undertones make it more balanced, less stark than pure grays and cooler than greige options.
Will This Color Show Dirt More than Other Neutrals?
It actually hides dirt better than darker shades. The medium-light tone helps mask minor smudges better than very dark or very light colors would.
Can I Use London Fog in An Open Floor Plan?
Absolutely. Its balanced quality makes it perfect for open concepts, creating flow between spaces while still offering more personality than plain white.