Benjamin Moore London Fog 1541: Paint Color Review

Is this neutral taupe, greige, or warm gray? Let’s find out!

If you’ve been searching high and low for the perfect warm neutral, a versatile and subtle color with predictable undertones…well…we need to talk.

While some colors have predictable undertones, including blue, green, and purple, others are ninjas, sneaking a range of hues onto your walls with minimal warning. Benjamin Moore London Fog (Classic Collection) isn’t as sneaky as some; it’s merely in the ninja training program but has a few serious considerations.

 

IS LONDON FOG A WARM GRAY, TAUPE, OR GREIGE?

London Fog is what I call a taupe-gray…that likes to wink at greige once in a blue moon. And I don’t get to say that often.

Why?

Greiges lean into a committed green undertone. Taupes lean into a purple undertone. So what’s London Fog? While it prefers a subtle purple (taupe) tone, it’s not hardcore about it, making it a contender for those nervous about purple undertones. While this lack of commitment can make it hard to pin down, it can also make it pretty darn flexible, depending on your needs.

As for London Fog being gray, some of it comes down to perception and exposure. Many would say London Fog is too warm to be gray as it doesn’t ‘look’ like a typical gray. Others see it as gray as it’s not nearly as warm as their favorite shades of taupe. You do you, boo.

You might find that London Fog changes its tune depending on your room’s exposure, leaning slightly warmer in one and grayer in another.

North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best? 

WHAT’S THE LRV OF LONDON FOG?

London Fog has an LRV of 56.44. This LRV makes London Fog a light-depth paint color, but it’s definitely on the heavy side of this range. If you have a dark room due to poor lighting or small/no windows, this depth of taupe can make the walls look a bit muddy and drab.

However, if you have a bright room, this added depth will help it hold firm against bright light, not washing out as much as lighter colors will.

Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.

WHAT ARE LONDON FOG’S UNDERTONES?

As we learned above, London Fog prefers a subtle purple undertone, but doesn’t go buckwild. In my experience (which is vast at 10,000+ online color consults), London Fog tends to read ‘neutral’ or just slightly purple (slightly being an overstatement). Rarely have I seen it flash green, but when it does, it’s on an exterior or being compared to a warm gray or taupe with legit purple hues.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Benjamin Moore Smoke Embers, Cumulus Cloud (another ninja), London Fog 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of London Fog…

WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM OR CABINET COLOR WITH LONDON FOG WALLS?

When it comes to the best white paint colors for London Fog, I lean towards…

• Benjamin Moore White Dove
• Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
• Sherwin Williams Pure White

The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO BENJAMIN MOORE LONDON FOG?

If you’re looking for colors that pick up what London Fog is throwin’ down, I’ve got some great samples to compare…

• Sherwin Williams Alpaca offers more commitment to a purple undertone if that’s what your finishes demand.
• Benjamin Moore Collingwood always leans into purple but comes up slightly lighter, softer, and more gentle-looking than London Fog.
• I’d definitely sample and compare London Fog with Benjamin Moore Rodeo.
• It’s hard to beat the popularity of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray when it comes to flexible neutrals – it’s 100X more popular than London Fog.

My FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

If I had to choose RIGHT NOW, I’d choose Agreeable Gray over London Fog. 

WHERE DOES LONDON FOG LOOK BEST?

Not every finish or room can handle London Fog and its warmth or undertones. Let’s look at a few considerations…

BENJAMIN MOORE LONDON FOG WITH CREAM TRIM OR CABINETS?

That’s a hard no from this little Ginger. London Fog doesn’t get along very well with cream – not in a close relationship, anyway.

Cream cabinets and trims are always challenging when updating surrounding walls. You might find this helpful.

LONDON FOG WITH WOOD TRIMS OR CABINETS?

Whether you have wood trims, cabinets, or flooring, London Fog can be a beautiful complement, offering only a slight contrast to the average wood stain.

Sherwin Williams Requisite Gray | Versatile Gray | Benjamin Moore Collingwood

LONDON FOG AS AN EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?

London Fog can be an excellent paint color for the exterior as long as it suits your finishes. Luckily, it’s the type of color that often relates well to many of the common stone facades and the mortar around brick.

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

WHAT COLORS GO WITH LONDON FOG IN A PALETTE?

While it greatly depends on whether you need a partner color for cabinets, an accent wall, or an adjoining room, here are some shades to explore…

• Medium-toned grayed-out greens can look stunning with London Fog
• Light shades of muted green look pretty in adjoining rooms, as well as greige paint colors
• super muted off white paint colors
• Medium-depth or darker gray-blues
• Any color that’s cooler than London Fog (including cool and warm grays) should be the same depth or DARKER than London Fog.

READ MORE

The Best Light to Medium Taupe Paint Colors

The Best Light to Medium Greige Paint Colors

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Egret White (mad love)

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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020,UPDATED IN 2025