Edgecomb Gray vs Drift of Mist: The Comparison That Actually Helps You Decide
Edgecomb Gray and Drift of Mist both sit in the warm greige-gray family, and both are frequently shortlisted for the same brief: a neutral that reads warm without tipping into beige. On paper the two look close. On a full wall, the five-point LRV gap between them changes everything about how each one behaves.
I have specified both across residential projects, and the choice has never come down to the fan deck. Edgecomb Gray is the deeper, more committed of the two - a genuine mid-tone greige-taupe with real presence. Drift of Mist is the lighter, quieter option, closer to a wash of warmth than a stated colour.
This guide covers exactly how they differ, which rooms each one actually suits, and how to test for the north-facing shift that catches out both colours in different ways.
At a Glance
| Edgecomb Gray | Drift of Mist |
Brand | Benjamin Moore | Sherwin-Williams |
LRV | 64 - mid-tone greige, holds real depth on the wall | 69 - noticeably lighter, edges toward off-white territory |
Colour category | Committed warm greige-taupe - straddles beige and gray without picking a side | Muted warm gray - soft enough to read as a barely-there neutral |
Undertones | Tawny, earthy warmth with a documented tendency to shift blue-gray in north and east light | Whisper-soft warm gray undertone that recedes further in cool light and only shows its warmth in strong sun |
Character | Grounded and substantial; reads as intentional greige with real presence on a full wall | Quiet and atmospheric; behaves more like a soft backdrop than a stated colour choice |
North-facing | Risky - the blue-gray shift is well documented and can read cold without warm materials to anchor it | Also risky, but differently - it doesn't turn blue, it simply goes flatter and cooler, losing its warmth almost entirely |
South-facing | Strong - the tawny undertone settles and the greige reads warm and grounded | Good - the warmth returns and it can lean toward a soft greige rather than gray |
Open-plan | Reliable - its mid-tone depth holds up consistently across zones with mixed light | More variable - its lighter LRV makes it react more visibly to changes in light across a large space |
On walls | Full mid-tone greige backdrop - gives a room real depth and definition | Soft, airy warm-gray backdrop - closer to a wash of colour than a defined wall tone |
On cabinets | Strong on cabinetry needing depth and presence - pairs well with warm wood and brass | Better suited to cabinetry that needs to stay light and unobtrusive against quartz or light stone |
Use together? | Yes - Edgecomb Gray on lower cabinets with Drift of Mist on walls creates a deliberate depth gradient | Drift of Mist on trim against Edgecomb Gray walls is the more classic direction, given the LRV gap |
Trim for each | Chantilly Lace or White Dove for a clean step up in brightness | Extra White SW 7006 or Pure White SW 7005 for crisp definition |
Style fit | Traditional, transitional, organic modern - the more grounded, layered choice | Modern farmhouse, Scandinavian, transitional - the softer, quieter choice |
Architect's pick | When the room needs real depth and can carry a committed mid-tone greige | When the brief calls for a barely-there warm neutral that won't compete with anything else in the room |
Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173 - What It Really Looks Like
Edgecomb Gray has an LRV of 64, placing it as a genuine mid-tone rather than a near-white. Benjamin Moore built this colour to sit exactly between beige and gray, and it does - HC-173 reads as a warm, tawny greige that never quite settles into either camp. There is nothing accidental about it. This is a colour with real body on the wall, not a whisper of warmth over white.
In good, even light the greige is soft and grounded, layering naturally with warm wood and brass. It shifts. In north or east-facing rooms, Edgecomb Gray is known to pull noticeably blue-gray, losing its tawny warmth and reading cooler and flatter than the paint chip suggested. This is one of its most documented traits, and it is worth testing before committing a whole room to it.
The colour's depth is what makes it useful. At LRV 64 it holds its own against furniture and materials the way a lighter neutral cannot - it does not wash out under strong light and it does not disappear into the wall. That makes it a genuinely versatile mid-tone, provided the room's light direction has been checked first.
For a closer look at how Edgecomb Gray performs against a true warm greige rather than a cooler warm gray, Edgecomb Gray vs Pale Oak guide breaks down the undertone gap and which rooms favour each.
Sherwin-Williams Drift of Mist SW 9166 - What It Really Looks Like
Drift of Mist has an LRV of 69, five points brighter than Edgecomb Gray and close enough to off-white territory that it behaves like a much softer neutral. Sherwin-Williams built SW 9166 as a soft, warm gray with deliberately muted undertones - it is not trying to make a statement. It is trying to disappear quietly into a room.
That quietness is the point, and also the risk. It does not commit. In north-facing light Drift of Mist can look considerably cooler and flatter than it does on the chip, losing the passive warmth that makes it work elsewhere. In south or west-facing rooms with real afternoon sun, that warmth returns and the colour can lean toward a soft greige rather than a plain gray.
Because the undertone is so restrained, Drift of Mist reads differently depending almost entirely on the room's light - more than most warm neutrals in its price bracket. It rewards testing in the specific room it will live in far more than it rewards trusting the fan deck.
For the full profile of Drift of Mist on its own, including where it works best across different light conditions, Sherwin-Williams Drift of Mist guide covers the undertone behaviour in more depth than a side-by-side comparison can.
The Real Difference Between Edgecomb Gray and Drift of Mist
The simplest way to put it: Edgecomb Gray commits, Drift of Mist doesn't. Edgecomb Gray is a mid-tone greige-taupe with enough depth to hold its own on a full wall. Drift of Mist is a lighter, quieter warm gray that behaves more like a wash of colour than a stated choice.
The five-point LRV gap between them (64 versus 69) matters more than it looks on paper. Edgecomb Gray has the depth to anchor a room; Drift of Mist has the lightness to recede into one. Side by side, Edgecomb Gray reads as the grounded, considered greige, while Drift of Mist reads as the softer, more atmospheric option.
Both colours share a documented weakness in north-facing rooms - Edgecomb Gray pulls blue-gray and Drift of Mist simply flattens and cools, though the mechanism differs enough that the fix does too. Agreeable Gray vs Edgecomb Gray guide is worth reading if Edgecomb Gray's north-facing risk is the deciding factor, since it covers exactly how that shift compares against another well-known warm gray.
When to Choose Edgecomb Gray
Choose Edgecomb Gray when the room has good light and warm materials that can carry real depth. These are the conditions where it performs best:
South or west-facing rooms with strong natural light, where the tawny undertone settles rather than shifts. Traditional, transitional, and organic modern interiors where a grounded mid-tone greige is part of the intent. Rooms with warm wood floors, brass hardware, and warm stone - materials that echo rather than fight the undertone. Living rooms and kitchens where the goal is depth and presence rather than a barely-there neutral.
Avoid Edgecomb Gray in north or east-facing rooms without warm artificial light to counter the blue-gray shift. Avoid it in spaces that need to stay light and airy, since its mid-tone depth will read heavier than a true off-white. And test it carefully before committing a whole open-plan space to it, since its performance varies more across zones than a lighter neutral would.
When to Choose Drift of Mist
Choose Drift of Mist when the brief calls for a quiet, barely-there warm neutral. These are the situations where it outperforms Edgecomb Gray:
Open-plan spaces where the colour needs to stay light and consistent across zones with mixed light and material temperatures. Scandinavian, modern farmhouse, and transitional interiors that favour softness over depth. Kitchens and bathrooms where the fixtures are light and the brief calls for a neutral that won't compete with them. Any room where Edgecomb Gray has already tested too heavy or too dark for the space.
Avoid Drift of Mist in north-facing rooms without a warm light source, since its muted undertone goes flat and cool faster than a more committed warm gray would. It is also the weaker choice for a room that needs a defined, anchoring wall colour rather than a soft backdrop.
How the Pairings Differ
On walls, Edgecomb Gray asks for warm materials to match its depth - wood tones, brass, and warm-toned stone let the greige settle rather than fight for attention. White Dove or Chantilly Lace on trim gives it a clean lift without competing.
Drift of Mist on walls pairs naturally with lighter, cooler-leaning materials - white oak, brushed nickel, and pale stone all sit comfortably against its muted undertone. Extra White or Pure White on trim keeps the whole scheme quiet and cohesive.
For flooring, Edgecomb Gray is more forgiving of warm wood and even some cooler stone, since its mid-tone depth absorbs minor undertone clashes that a lighter colour would show more plainly. Drift of Mist favours lighter floors - pale oak or light stone - where its own restrained undertone won't be overpowered.
Both colours suit brushed nickel and warm brass equally well. Edgecomb Gray can also carry matte black confidently, given its depth; Drift of Mist is more forgiving with polished chrome and other cooler, brighter metals, since its lighter LRV doesn't compete with the sheen.
Architect's Verdict - Edgecomb Gray or Drift of Mist?
For most homes, the decision comes down to how much depth the room can carry.
Choose Edgecomb Gray when the room needs a mid-tone anchor - a space with warm materials, good light, and furnishings that can stand up to a committed greige. It is the right call in rooms where a barely-there neutral would look unfinished.
Choose Drift of Mist when the brief calls for something quieter - a soft, warm-gray backdrop that stays out of the way of everything else in the room, particularly in open-plan spaces with mixed light.
The test: paint a large sample of each on the room's worst light - typically the north-facing wall, if there is one - and check it morning and midday. If Edgecomb Gray still reads warm and grounded rather than blue, it has passed. If Drift of Mist still shows any hint of its warmth rather than going flat and cool, it has passed too. Whichever survives that test is the one your room can actually support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edgecomb Gray warmer than Drift of Mist?
Edgecomb Gray is the warmer, more grounded of the two. Its tawny undertone gives it real presence, while Drift of Mist's warmth is far more muted and only shows clearly in strong, direct light.
Can I use Edgecomb Gray and Drift of Mist in the same house?
Yes, and the LRV gap makes them work well together. Edgecomb Gray on lower cabinetry or an accent wall with Drift of Mist on the main walls creates a deliberate, layered depth gradient rather than a flat match.
Which is better for a north-facing room?
Neither is ideal, but they fail differently. Edgecomb Gray is documented to shift blue-gray in north light, while Drift of Mist simply flattens and loses its warmth. If forced to choose, test both with warm artificial lighting before committing.
Which is better for kitchen cabinets?
Edgecomb Gray is the stronger choice for cabinetry that needs presence against warm wood and brass hardware. Drift of Mist works better on cabinets that need to stay light and recede, particularly alongside white quartz and nickel hardware.
Does Drift of Mist look gray or beige?
It depends entirely on the light. In north-facing or cool artificial light it reads as a soft, muted gray; in strong south or west light the warmth returns and it can lean toward greige.
What is the LRV of Edgecomb Gray vs Drift of Mist?
Edgecomb Gray has an LRV of approximately 64, and Drift of Mist has an LRV of approximately 69. The five-point gap is enough to be visible in person - Drift of Mist reads noticeably lighter and airier on the wall.
Final Thought
Edgecomb Gray and Drift of Mist are both excellent warm greiges, but they are not interchangeable. The choice is not about which one is better - it is about how much depth and presence your room can carry.
If your room has good light and warm materials, Edgecomb Gray will reward you with real depth and grounded warmth. If you want a quieter, more atmospheric neutral, Drift of Mist is the safer, more forgiving choice. Buy sample pots of both, paint large patches in the room's toughest light, and check them morning and evening before deciding.
Want a complete colour scheme built around Edgecomb Gray or Drift of Mist? Our design packages cover full palette selection, finish recommendations, and 3D visualisations - see our packages. |
About the Author
Beril Yilmaz is a qualified architect and interior designer based in the UK. She runs BY Design And Viz, a design platform covering paint colour reviews, interior design guidance, and residential design projects. Beril has specified both Edgecomb Gray and Drift of Mist across residential projects in the UK and internationally - Edgecomb Gray in traditional and transitional interiors needing a grounded mid-tone greige, Drift of Mist in open-plan and Scandinavian-influenced spaces where a quieter, lighter neutral was the brief, occasionally specifying both together with Edgecomb Gray on lower cabinetry and Drift of Mist on the surrounding walls.
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