Evergreen Fog was the Sherwin Williams Color of the Year for 2022, and it served some serious looks! Sage Green is still very much on trend for 2024, so this color is most likely just getting started.
Want to see the 2024 Color of the Year? Check it out here.
Let’s take a look at all things Evergreen Fog, including swatches, palettes, dupes, and of course, how the experts put it to work!
This post may contain affiliate links. Should you choose to make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend products that I use.
What Color is Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog (SW 9130)
Almost all gray-green colors will trick you if you let them! They typically look much much greener in real life than they do on the swatch.
If you’re here because you’ve seen Evergreen Fog on the wall, the color chip will have you doing a double take.
If I had to guess off of just this, I would think Evergreen Fog was an olivey color.
Not so!
Evergreen fog is a true gray green.
LRV of Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog
The LRV of a color indicates on a scale of 0 – 100 how much light a color reflects (or doesn’t reflect). True black has an LRV of 0 and pure white has an LRV of 100.
In the paint world, we are working in a range of about 3 – 93 because no paint color is purely black or completely white.
The LRV of Evergreen Fog is 30, which solidly makes it a mid-toned color.
What Are the Undertones of SW Evergreen Fog?
Evergreen Fog does have some yellow undertones, because it is right on the yellow end of green. That can translate as a hint of beige, but more often than not, you can’t see it at all.
Gray greens are often chameleons!
Is Evergreen Fog Warm or Cool?
I view Evergreen Fog as a neutral paint color.
Greens are typically categorized as “cool” colors on the color wheel, but since they sit between yellow (warm) and blue (cool) they often make great neutrals.
In the case of Evergreen Fog, it does have those warm yellow undertones, so technically it’s a warm green.
The gray helps balance out the warmth however, and I would say that it most often appears neutral. You will see in some of the photos that it does look cool toned when the gray is most obvious and up front.
I know! Clear as mud.
To emphasize the neutral/warmer side of Evergreen Fog, use it with warm colors like cream or terracotta. For cool gray green tones, use it with blues and bright whites.
The Evergreen Fog Color Strip
Some of the colors that Sherwin Williams releases will be standalone colors, and not part of traditional color strip.
Evergreen Fog is one of these colors, and it does not technically have a color strip.
When you visit their website however, they have grouped Evergreen Fog into the SW 6180 strip that runs from Ethereal White to Shade Grown:
Lighter Version of Evergreen Fog
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Escape Gray (SW 6185)
You can kind of see from the color strip that Evergreen Fog would slot in nicely between Escape Gray and Dried Thyme.
Escape Gray has an LRV of 41, so it’s lighter than Evergreen Fog, but not by a huge margin. It would be a great option if Evergreen Fog is just a little bit too dark for you.
Darker Version of Evergreen Fog
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Dried Thyme (SW 6186)
On the other side of Evergreen Fog, Dried Thyme has an LRV of 21, so again it’s darker but not too much.
You should know that Dried Thyme is a little cooler than Evergreen Fog. You can see from the swatches that it looks more green:
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Rosemary (SW 6187)
If you want more contrast, SW Rosemary is approaching a dark gray green with an LRV of 14.
It is not quite as neutral as Evergreen Fog.
Like the look of Rosemary? You might like this post: Sherwin Williams Rosemary (The Unofficial Color of the Year?)
I will take you through some more color comparisons in a minute, but first: Let’s see Evergreen Fog in action!
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog for Your Home’s Interior
Let’s take a look at how other people have used Evergreen Fog. Trust me, you need to see a few photos to wrap your mind around this one.
(Or maybe that’s just me.)
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog in a Bedroom
First up, how fun is this bedroom?
This room features Evergreen Fog on the walls, and Rosemary on the ceiling. It’s a bold combo, but somehow feels cozy and traditional.
In this next room the warm light shows off the slight yellow undertones.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog in a Stylish Bathroom
This bathroom not only features the chicest of finishes, it also boasts a pretty unique color combo!
I love the bronze, the woodland wallpaper, really all of it!
For the vanity, the homeowner chose the color Pashmina by Benjamin Moore.
Not colors that I would have been brave enough to put together, but doesn’t it look great?
What a gorgeous space!
This is the part where I tell you that it’s a children’s bathroom, and then go upstairs and cry about where I went wrong.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog on Kitchen Cabinets
I have two kitchens for you today with Evergreen Fog cabinets.
The first is a pretty accurate representation of the color, but I only have one photo. The second I have many photos, but the color looks a little brighter than it would in real life.
Here is the more accurate of the kitchens:
Evergreen Fog looks so lovely and smoky here!
It also looks great with the warm oak color of the floors, so you could definitely use Evergreen Fog if you have oak cabinets!
Don’t Forget Your Supplies!
This little brush might look funny, but it’s my absolute ride or die!
Rollers like these hold the most paint and make the job faster. Get a metal roller cage for easy on and off.
DryDex is the fastest (and funnest!) way to make chips and dents disappear. (Make sure you get a small spackling tool that actually fits in the container, and a sanding sponge.)
This tool will save your back and limit time on a ladder.
Now for the second kitchen! Let’s start with the most accurate photo:
From here the rest of the kitchen looks brighter and less gray than you would expect.
I’m not sure if it’s due to the super bright lighting or the warm wood everywhere in the kitchen, but if you are sold on the color as it appears in these photos, check out Sherwin Williams Clary Sage instead.
This kitchen is by Residence Design (@residencedesignbuild), and I did confirm that it was Evergreen Fog.
This photo is a bit more true to tone, particularly on the close side:
The moral of the story is test, test, test!
Obviously you don’t want to slop paint on your cabinets, so peel and stick samples are really ideal for this type of thing.
I am in love with that wallpaper! So much so that I immediately did some online shopping for something similar.
If you love it too, here is one that fits the bill! I’m debating ordering it for my powder room.
(Peel and stick obviously. The wallpaper guy* I married refuses to do any more DIY.)
*not a real wallpaper guy
One last one:
Gorgeous!
I have a post dedicated to Green Kitchen Cabinets, and another specifically to Sage Green Kitchen Cabinets if you want to see more color choices.
How Will Evergreen Fog Look on an Exterior?
Sage greens are pretty popular right now, even for exteriors, so I was surprised not to find Evergreen Fog on any exterior paint jobs.
I figure any example is better than nothing, so hopefully these two similar houses give you an idea.
Here is SW Rosemary on an exterior.
Evergreen Fog will be a little lighter and more gray than this home.
On the more gray side, here is Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull:
Carolina Gull is a bit cooler than Evergreen Fog, but I chose a picture where it looks warmer. I think this is pretty close to how Evergreen Fog would look an exterior.
These two colors also have similar LRVs.
Evergreen Fog in a Color Palette
Here is how Evergreen Fog would look with a number of designer favorite paint colors:
Evergreen Fog Complementary & Coordinating Colors
Evergreen Fog With Chantilly Lace
If you’ve been here before, or if you stay awhile, you will know that Chantilly Lace is my favorite white!
This nice clean shade from Benjamin Moore is a green-based white, so I always want to pair it with greens. It is a true white though, so it’s really the thought that counts.
Read all about Chantilly Lace
Evergreen Fog and Gray Owl
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl is a great neutral color that is actually a warm gray green as well! It’s nice and light if you want to use Evergreen Fog as an accent and something a little softer everywhere else.
Evergreen Fog With Repose Gray, Revere Pewter, or Agreeable Gray
The trifecta of famous neutral paint colors! (Well, these plus Accessible Beige, but a “quad-fecta” isn’t a thing.)
I lumped these three together because you could really use any of them with Evergreen Fog.
My preference would be Repose Gray, because it will keep Evergreen Fog looking a little cooler, but it’s a personal choice.
Accessible Beige and Evergreen Fog
I included Accessible Beige because it is a super popular neutral, and a lot of people will be wondering if these two work together.
I don’t think that these two like each other. Evergreen Fog pulls out even more of the warm tones in Accessible Beige, and makes it look a little peachy.
If you love this color, consider Shoji White. It’s similar to Accessible Beige, but lighter. If you use it as your wall and trim color, it will stay looking more neutral.
(At first glance, Shoji White looks too dark for trim and doors, but I have some great examples in my post: Sherwin Williams Shoji White Review and Alternatives to prove that I’m not crazy!)
Evergreen Fog With Black Magic
Sherwin Williams Black Magic is a great true black paint color, but it’s just a touch softer than a stark jet black.
If you are looking for a black accent color, it would look great with Evergreen Fog.
(Of course if you want jet black, take a look at Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black.)
Evergreen Fog With Hale Navy
Navy blues love green, and Benjamin Moore Hale Navy is the OG Navy.
(Do I have a post about Hale Navy? Of course I do!)
Hale Navy is close to being the official complementary color for evergreen fog, which would technically be a grayish blue.
Evergreen Fog With Urbane Bronze
Where would the 2022 Color of the Year be without the 2021 Color of the Year?
That’s right, Urbane Bronze held the title in 2021, and its popularity is still going.
A swatch just doesn’t do it justice. Urbane Bronze is a rich bronzey color that somehow manages to have a metallic aura. I do think these would work together, but Urbane Bronze is also a chameleon, so you will definitely want to test it out!
What Trim Colors Go With Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog?
I noticed that a lot of people chose to pair Evergreen Fog with warm wood tones, so it should definitely work with existing oak trim.
Sage greens are very traditional, so they are also well suited to dark wood trim.
White Paint that Goes with Evergreen Fog
If you’re thinking white trim, here are a few choices!
- Alabaster
- Shoji White
- High Reflective White
- Snowbound
Alabaster and Shoji White are the softer, warmer whites if you want a lower contrast cozy feel.
For maximum contrast and crisp white trim, go with High Reflective White – Sherwin Williams brightest white.
Snowbound is a great trim choice because it’s a little softer than High Reflective White, but not overtly creamy like Alabaster and Shoji. It’s a nice compromise.
Evergreen Fog Compared to Other Sherwin Williams Paint Colors
Is your head spinning with all of the gray green sagey choices you could make?
Allow me to clarify! Here is Evergreen Fog compared to similar Sherwin Williams colors.
Don’t care about other SW colors? Skip to the dupes!
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Acacia Haze (SW 9132)
Acacia Haze is similar to Evergreen Fog: It’s a gray green with an LRV of 32.
The major difference is that Acacia Haze is a lot cooler than Evergreen Fog. It doesn’t have the extra yellow.
Like the look of this one? Me too! Check out my post: Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze: A Delicious Gray Green
These next few colors are all on the same color strip, and often compared to Evergreen Fog:
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Sea Salt (SW 6204)
As you can see, Sea Salt is much much lighter than Evergreen Fog. It has an LRV way up at 63.
(You can read all about Sea Salt here!)
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Oyster Bay (SW 6206)
Oyster Bay is one of my personal favorites from this color strip. It looks a lot brighter in real life.
(I have a couple pictures of Oyster Bay in my Ultra Sophisticated Gray Green Paint Colors post.)
It is lighter than Evergreen Fog, with an LRV of 44, and again is cooler.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Retreat (SW 6207)
Did I just say Oyster Bay was one of my favorites? Because I seriously love Retreat too.
You can see that Retreat is more green (cooler) than Evergreen Fog. It is actually a bit darker too, with an LRV of 21. The chip on Retreat is pretty accurate.
See more from this color in my post: Take a Vacation With Sherwin Williams Retreat
(I also have pictures of Retreat – and actually several other of these colors – in my Trend-Setting Green Kitchen Cabinets post)
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Pewter Green (SW 6208)
Finally (for this strip) we have Pewter Green.
Pewter Green has an LRV of 12, so it is getting pretty dark. Again it is cooler than Evergreen Fog, but you can see that it isn’t a cool green. Next to a true green or a blue green, Pewter Green would look more olive.
(Check out my post about Pewter Green!)
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Clary Sage (SW 6178)
I already mentioned Clary Sage a little earlier when we were looking at cabinets. It is warmer like Evergreen Fog, but it is lighter, with an LRV of 41.
Clary Sage looks absolutely nothing like its color chip (in my opinion).
It’s a hard color to describe. It’s like a sage green with a bit of extra brightness.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Coastal Plain (SW 6192)
Coastal Plain is more green than Evergreen Fog. It is also a bit lighter, with an LRV of 37.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Illusive Green (SW 9164)
Illusive Green is very very similar to Evergreen Fog, but it is a tiny bit cooler and a bit more gray.
With an LRV of 29, Illusive Green is a hair darker.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Succulent (SW 9650)
Succulent is still a gray green, but on the opposite end of the scale, being closer to blue than yellow. That’s why it looks so much greener. Succulent is on the dark side of mid-green, with an LRV of 14.
See more of this color here: Don’t Use Sherwin Williams Succulent (Unless You Want to Everyone to Copy You!)
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Cornwall Slate (SW 9131)
You might think that Cornwall Slate would be on the same color strip as Evergreen Fog, because the number is SW 9131 and Evergreen Fog is SW 9130.
As we talked about earlier, Evergreen Fog doesn’t actually have its own strip, so the numbers don’t mean too much, although related colors are still generally grouped together.
Cornwall Slate is almost the same color as Evergreen Fog on paper. It has an LRV of 29, so it’s a pinch darker, but the difference is negligible. They also have similar amounts of gray. The major difference between these two, is that Cornwall Slate is more yellow.
I would actually describe Cornwall Slate as a beige-green and not really a gray-green. (Based on how it looks in real life.)
Comparing Evergreen Fog to Popular Benjamin Moore, Behr, and PPG Colors
Here are a few more greens that you may also be considering alongside Evergreen Fog:
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Benjamin Moore October Mist (1495)
We can’t skip over October Mist because it is Benjamin Moore’s “Color of the Year” for 2022!
(You can read my post about October Mist here.)
October Mist is somewhere between Cornwall Slate and Evergreen Fog, but a lot lighter, with an LRV of 46.33.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Benjamin Moore Army Green (2141-30)
Army Green not only looks nothing like Evergreen Fog, it doesn’t look very appealing on paper.
In real life it is a pleasant true olive green. It doesn’t look nearly as brown as it does here.
The LRV of Army Green is 15.39.
Before we finish up with these comparisons, I have to mention a couple of Behr colors:
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Breezeway (MQ3-21)
You can plainly see that Breezeway isn’t anything like Evergreen Fog, but I had to show it because it is a popular gray green by Behr, and their “Color of the Year” for 2022.
Breezeway is light and cool, with an LRV of 66.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Behr Olive Sprig (ECC-55-3)
Behr Olive Sprig is actually not green at all. It is more of an olivey khaki color, and is an orange based gray.
The LRV of Behr Olive Sprig is 23.
I only mention Olive Sprig because it is often confused for:
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs PPG Olive Sprig (PPG1125-4)
The PPG version of Olive Sprig is much more similar to Evergreen Fog than the Behr color of the same name.
It is lighter, with an LRV of 41, but it is also a warm gray green. Olive Sprig is pretty similar to October Mist.
Funny enough, this color is PPG’s “Color of the Year” for 2022. So that makes it a clean sweep for major paint brands choosing a gray green!
Collusion!
Evergreen Fog Dupes
Now let’s dive into some colors that are great alternatives to Evergreen Fog. Whether you are looking to save a few dollars, or you just can’t get to a Sherwin Williams store, I’ve got options!
Here are the dupes we will be talking about from every brand:
Evergreen Fog in Benjamin Moore
From Benjamin Moore, the closest dupes I found for SW Evergreen Fog are Oil Cloth and Storm Cloud Gray.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Benjamin Moore Oil Cloth (CSP-760)
Benjamin Moore’s Oil Cloth is nearly identical to Evergreen Fog, except that it is lighter.
Oil Cloth has an LRV of 35.31.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Benjamin Moore Storm Cloud Gray (2140-40)
Our second dupe is Storm Cloud Gray, which has an LRV of 28.88:
Storm Cloud Gray is just the tiniest bit warmer and darker than Evergreen Fog.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Benjamin Moore Raintree Green (CC-560)
Although it didn’t make the shortlist, Raintree Green is also a pretty good Benjamin Moore alternative to Evergreen Fog. It is more yellow and less gray:
Valspar Equivalent to Evergreen Fog
Don’t worry, Valspar doesn’t have 100+ gray green colors to compare Evergreen Fog to, so I just picked two: Green Tea Leaves, and Gray Expose.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Valspar Green Tea Leaves (5004-1C)
You can see that Green Tea Leaves is a little lighter and brighter than Evergreen Fog, with an LRV of 34.359.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Valspar Gray Expose (5007-2A)
Gray Expose goes the opposite direction of Green Tea Leaves. It is cooler and more gray than Evergreen Fog, although the LRV is the same, at 30.5.
Evergreen Fog in Farrow & Ball
I wouldn’t normally include Farrow & Ball, but their popular color Pigeon is also very similar to Evergreen Fog:
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Farrow & Ball Pigeon (25)
Pigeon by Farrow & Ball is warmer and lighter than Evergreen Fog.
F & B do not share any information about their colors online, not even the LRV! Based on experiments with other colors, I feel pretty confident that the LRV of Pigeon is 33.
Evergreen Fog Behr Equivalent (Home Depot)
Behr put me through it when I was trying to find dupes for Evergreen Fog! I finally settled on Behr Hunter’s Hollow as the best color match, but I will show you a couple others too.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Hunter’s Hollow (MQ6-21)
Hunter’s Hollow is a little lighter than Evergreen Fog, with an LRV of 32.
Other than that, this one is a dead ringer:
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Incognito (N370-5)
Incognito is a little darker and more gray than Evergreen Fog, but still similar, and a gorgeous color!
Incognito reminds me a bit of Sherwin Williams Thunderous. Not because they are super similar, but because both are hard to figure out at first glance.
Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog vs Hillside Green & Milkweed Pod
Behr’s colors Hillside Green and Milkweed Pod get honorable mentions as dupes for Evergreen Fog. They’re close, but we have better.
Both of these two have LRVs of 30.
Evergreen Fog Final Moody Musings
Okay that’s it from me and Evergreen Fog. Thank you so much for sticking around to the end, that actually helps my blog!
Let’s recap:
- Evergreen Fog can look cool or warm, but it works well as a neutral
- With an LRV of 30, Evergreen Fog is a perfect not-too-dark not-too-light color
- Evergreen Fog would be an unexpected but safe choice for cabinets or exteriors
Before you go, all I seem to write about lately is green!
Check out some more colors that you might like:
