Evergreen Fog vs Dried Thyme: Which Sherwin-Williams Green Paint Color Is Right for Your Home?

I’ve been searching for a suitable earthy green for my space for a long time because it brings a calm and organic vibe to the space. After repainting my walls with many shades of green, the two that finally stopped me were evergreen fog vs dried thyme.

But before selecting either of them, you must know the technical details like LRV, undertones, style and lighting conditions, because these factors play a major role in creating the actual vibe of your space.

They looked like the same colour on a chip but when used on walls they appear completely different. So it is very important to know these details before selecting the colour for your space. It saves you from a lot of frustration and wastage of money and time. 

Both evergreen fog vs dried thyme are beautiful in different ways. One is soft and airy while the other is moody and grounded. Which one is right for your home depends on your room and lighting settings.

Also Read:-

Best Door Color For Red Brick House
Quiet Moments vs Sea Salt
Tan House With Brown Trim

Color Personality of Evergreen Fog (SW 9130)

Evergreen Fog is Sherwin-Williams’ Color of the Year. It is still relevant and used everywhere.Its LRV is 30.

It is placed in the soft gray-green zone. It is neither green nor gray but is balanced in between the middle ground. The gray backdrop prevents it from feeling loud or obnoxious which makes it so livable.

This is called a colored neutral because in most rooms, it reads neutral instead of green. The undertones are mostly gray, with soft green and a subtle blue that shows up in cooler light. Some people even catch a faint yellow-green warmth in the strong afternoon sun which gives it a chameleon effect which is very real with this color.

I’ve used it on two accent walls. Morning light makes it look almost sage-like while Evening makes it shift to blue-gray. It never looks the same twice. 

Color Personality of Dried Thyme (SW 6186)

Dried Thyme is a different type of colour entirely.

SW 6186 sits darker, richer and holds more presence than Evergreen Fog. If Evergreen Fog is a subtle colour then Dried Thyme speaks is a statement colour.

It’s a muted and earthy herbal green that appears grounded and a little cool. This coolness comes straight from its blue undertones, which prevents it from ever drifting into warm olive or yellow-green territory. It stays cool-balanced and green-forward. Its LRV is 21 which is lower than Evergreen Fog’s 30, meaning it absorbs more light and carries more visual weight.

I used this on kitchen cabinets and it looked incredible. But on full walls in a smaller room, it felt heavy and a bit much for the space. Pair it with warm oak wood or brass hardware and it transforms completely. It needs the right setting to truly shine.

Evergreen Fog vs Dried Thyme: Understanding the Key Differences

Both colors are muted, gray-influenced and earthy greens from the Sherwin-Williams family . But side by side, they feel quite different. Evergreen Fog leans lighter and more neutral while Dried Thyme goes deeper and more herbal.The difference isn’t dramatic on a chip, but can be felt when seen on walls. The right one comes down to your room size, light exposure, and the kind of mood you actually want to live in every single day. Let me break it all down.

LRV

LRV refers to the Light Reflectance Value that tells you how much light a color bounces back in a room. Evergreen Fog LRV is 30 while Dried Thyme LRV comes around at 21.This 9-point gap matters more than most people realize.

Evergreen Fog at 30 sits comfortably in the medium range. It holds itself in bright and dim rooms without getting lost or becoming too dominant. 

Dried Thyme at 21 is on the lower side of medium. It absorbs more light, which means in smaller or low-light rooms, it can feel heavy and close-in. In a large and well-lit space, It looks rich and grounded. LRV should be your first factor when choosing between both the colours

Undertones

Both colors share the gray quality that gives them their muted and calming quality.But the way they sit is different.

Evergreen Fog carries gray as its dominant undertone, with soft green and a subtle blue. It lands neutral in most settings, which makes it easier to work with across different finishes. 

Dried Thyme’s blue undertones push it cooler and keep it greener, herbal and more earthy. These blue tones are what stops it from going olive. Evergreen Fog’s undertones make it more flexible across warm and cool finishes. Dried Thyme needs more careful pairing with the blue-green tones because they clash badly with the wrong countertop or flooring.

Lighting Behavior

Here, both colours diverge the most and people get caught off guard.

Evergreen Fog is a full chameleon colour. North-facing rooms make it look stormy and moody while South-facing rooms add warmth and balance. In the morning it looks greener and in the evening it prefers blue-gray. It shifts constantly throughout the day.

Dried Thyme also shifts, but holds its character firmly. In north-facing rooms, the blue undertones amplify and it becomes darker and almost gray-green. South-facing rooms bring out a faint olive warmth. Test both under your room’s light before committing and do not simply choose from the chips on the store lightning. 

Depth

Depth refers to how much visual weight a color brings into the room.

Evergreen Fog at LRV 30 is the more approachable option and it gives the room a colour without making it feel smaller. You can put it on four walls and it won’t close in on you. 

Dried Thyme at LRV 21 demands more from the space it is used. In large rooms with great natural light, it looks luxurious and rich while in tighter rooms with limited windows, it can start to feel heavy and cramped like the walls are coming in. If you want a statement without overcommitting then use Evergreen Fog but if you prefer something bolder that room can handle it then Dried Thyme is the go to option.

Style and Uses

Evergreen Fog is very flexible. It suits Organic Modern, Modern Farmhouse, Cottage, Scandinavian, Traditional and Transitional styles. It handles full walls, cabinets, exteriors and accent walls comfortably.

Dried Thyme leans more intentional. It works well on kitchen cabinets, bathroom walls and accent walls where its herbal and grounded energy can really land. It works beautifully with brass hardware, marble countertops, and warm wood flooring. 

Use it in Organic Modern and Traditional spaces where it truly thrives and not in a casual background color.

Comparison Table: Evergreen Fog vs Dried Thyme

How Evergreen Fog vs Dried Thyme Perform in Different Rooms

Room performance is where the real decisions are made because a color that looks amazing in a sun-drenched living room can look flat and heavy in a north-facing bathroom. I noticed that Dried Thyme isn’t always “too dark for small spaces” and Evergreen Fog isn’t always the safe and easy choice. Context matters and so let me break down what happens room by room, based on testing and not paint chips with evergreen fog vs dried thyme.

Bedroom

Both work for bedrooms, but each creates different moods.

Evergreen Fog gives you a calm and nature-inspired atmosphere. The kind where you wake up and feel like the room is breathing with you. It’s soft enough to not feel heavy at night, and morning light brings out its green, making the whole space feel refreshed. 

Dried Thyme in a bedroom feels more like a boutique hotel that is  moody, intimate and a little more dramatic. If you prefer a cozy feel then Dried Thyme on an accent wall with warm lighting looks stunning. If you want peace and light every morning then Evergreen Fog is the considered choice.

Bathroom

Bathrooms are tricky because natural light is inconsistent or unavailable.

Evergreen Fog handles low-light bathrooms better because of the higher LRV. This means it won’t make a windowless bathroom feel claustrophobic. Dried Thyme in a bathroom works best when paired with white tiles and matte gold fixtures. This combination creates a spa-like and serene vibe that feels intentional and sophisticated. 

But using Dried Thyme in a very small and dark bathroom can feel heavy very quickly. For either color in bathrooms, use Eggshell or Satin finish because moisture resistance isn’t optional. Test the colour samples on multiple walls and not only one. Bathroom lighting bounces in unpredictable ways.

Kitchen

In Kitchens Dried Thyme earns its reputation.

On kitchen cabinets, it creates a smoky and herbal green-gray effect that looks sophisticated and editorial without trying very hard. Pair it with marble countertops, natural stone backsplash or warm oak flooring and it looks something out of a design magazine. 

Evergreen Fog on kitchen cabinets is also beautiful, but it reads softer and more subtle. If you want your kitchen to announce itself then use Dried Thyme but If you want quiet and refined charm, then go for Evergreen Fog. Both pair beautifully with brass or champagne bronze hardware.

Living Room

In a living room, size and light exposure control everything.

Evergreen Fog on full living room walls creates a calming and grounded backdrop that feels cozy without feeling heavy. It works beautifully alongside natural wood furniture, warm textiles and stone accents. 

Dried Thyme on living room walls in a large and well-lit space looks incredible, rich, earthy and fully intentional. But in a medium-sized or darker living room, use Dried Thyme on one accent wall only. Four walls of LRV 21 in a closed space will make the room feel smaller and cramped. Evergreen Fog gives you more flexibility and that matters the most  in a room you live in daily.

Evergreen Fog vs Dried Thyme: Comparison with Similar Colors

Neither of these colors lives in isolation because they belong to a  wider family of muted greens. I’ve compared both against their closest neighbors multiple times, and I noticed that the differences are subtle on a chip but become visible on a wall. Knowing how each color compares to similar shades helps you choose the right colour for your space. These comparisons are practical tools for narrowing down your final decision.

SW Dried Thyme vs Pewter Green

Pewter Green (SW 6208) is part of a similar family as Dried Thyme but leans more firmly into gray-green territory, which makes it less herbal and more industrial-calm. 

Dried Thyme gives you an earthy and nature-forward quality while Pewter Green feels more like a sophisticated gray with a green influence. The green in Pewter Green is quieter and more restrained. 

If you want a color that appears as gray with a whisper of green turn use Pewter Green but if you want a color that holds its green identity clearly while staying muted then prefer Dried Thyme in that comparison. It’s greener, earthier and more warmer in character.

SW Dried Thyme vs Rosemary

Rosemary (SW 6187) sits one shade darker than Dried Thyme on the same Sherwin-Williams color strip, with an LRV of 14 against Dried Thyme’s LRV of 21.This gap is visible on the walls .

Rosemary becomes deeper, richer and more statement-forward. It has more gray undertones,which makes it feel more serious and dramatic. For accent walls and cabinetry where you prefer a bold and attentive look then prefer Rosemary. 

Dried Thyme is the more livable and everyday version of that same energy. For full walls in most rooms, I’d take Dried Thyme over Rosemary, but for a moody kitchen island or dramatic bedroom accent wall, use Rosemary.

SW Dried Thyme vs Retreat

Retreat (SW 6207) shares the same LRV as Dried Thyme with both sitting at 21. And because of the same LRV they have similar depth.

But they feel different on walls. Retreat leans more into blue-gray territory. It reads cooler, serene and almost spa-like. Dried Thyme stays more herbal and earthy. 

Choosing between them isn’t about depth but more about temperature preference. If you want your space to feel cool and peaceful, then go for Retreat and if you want a grounded and herb-garden-in-winter energy, then consider Dried Thyme as your suitable choice.

Evergreen Fog vs October Mist

October Mist is Benjamin Moore’s muted sage green, with an LRV of around 46.54, which is much lighter than Evergreen Fog, which has an LRV of 30.

October Mist is warmer, brighter, and more classically sage while Evergreen Fog is deeper, grayer and more complex. If you want an airy and soft-pastel sage, then choose October Mist. If you want something that holds more visual depth and feels richer, then Evergreen Fog is the preferred choice. 

I personally consider Evergreen Fog for its grayer and more sophisticated presence. But if your room is dark or small, then October Mist’s higher LRV serves you better in terms of keeping things feeling open.

Color Comparison Table

Evergreen Fog vs Dried Thyme: Pros and Cons

No color is perfect. Both Evergreen Fog and Dried Thyme have real strengths and limitations. Dried Thyme’s depth can be a problem in small or dark space while Evergreen Fog’s undertone shifts surprise homeowners who weren’t expecting it to look gray under certain lighting. This table is my honest breakdown so you know exactly what you’re dealing with before you start your paint journey.

Pros and Cons Table:

What to Keep in Mind When Using Evergreen Fog vs Dried Thyme

Choosing between both colours isn’t about which one looks better on a chip but understanding more about your room, light and lifestyle. I’ve watched people use Dried Thyme after seeing it  online and then repaint it two months later because it didn’t work well with the light exposure while I’ve seen Evergreen Fog look flat and uninspiring in an east-facing room because the owner skipped the sampling step. These tips come from real experience and mistakes I have made myself. Use these and save your time and money.

Tips to Keep in Mind:

• Always test with peel-and-stick samples first: Use large 8×8 inch samples instead of small paint chips and check them in the morning, afternoon, and evening. 
• Check your room’s orientation before anything: North-facing rooms push both colors cooler and darker while South-facing rooms add warmth. This changes everything about which color makes sense.
• Be real about your room size with Dried Thyme: LRV 21 in a small and low-light room will feel heavy. If you’re unsure, use it only on a single accent wall or only on cabinets.
• Choose your finish wisely: Eggshell or Satin for walls while Semi-Gloss for trim and exteriors. The finish affects how the color appears more than most people expect.
• Anchor Dried Thyme with warm materials: Brass hardware, oak flooring and marble countertops, balance the cool blue undertones and keep the room from feeling cold.
• Add warm lighting to Evergreen Fog spaces: If natural light is limited, use artificial bulbs. The warmth softens the gray shift and the green tone appears again.
• Don’t trust screens: Phone and monitor screens distort paint colors badly. Always judge from physical samples in your actual space and not from Pinterest boards.

Conclusion

This is my honest opinion from evergreen fog vs dried thyme

Evergreen Fog is the one you choose when you want flexibility, softer presence and a color that works across different rooms, styles and lighting conditions without much fuss. It plays well with almost everything.

Dried Thyme is the one you choose when you’re ready to commit to a color with real character. It’s deeper, more grounded and intentional. It doesn’t blend into the background and OWNS the space it lives in.Neither is wrong but They’re used for different personalities serving different spaces.

My personal pick for full walls in most rooms is Evergreen Fog. For kitchen cabinets or a moody bedroom accent wall prefer Dried Thyme, every single time. 

Test both evergreen fog vs dried thyme and live with them for a few days. Trust what you feel in the room and not what you see on a screen. 

FAQs