Evergreen Fog SW 9130 is the deeper, moodier sage of the two, with an LRV of 30 and a gray-greige cast that reads quiet and grounded.
Sea Salt SW 6204 is the lighter, airier coastal sage, with an LRV of 63 and a green-blue that shifts noticeably with the light.
The tiebreaker is depth and how much light your room gets, not undertone, because both live in the same sage family. Test both on a photo of your space before you commit.
Evergreen Fog and Sea Salt are two of Sherwin-Williams' most popular sages, and they get cross-shopped constantly because they look related on a fan deck. They are related, but the depth gap between them is large and visible on the wall: Evergreen Fog sits at LRV 30, Sea Salt at LRV 63, a 33-point swing. One reads moody and grounded, the other breezy and barely-there. This is our side-by-side method for comparing paint colors applied to the two sages Sherwin-Williams shoppers pair most often.
The numbers side by side
| Attribute | Evergreen Fog SW 9130 | Sea Salt SW 6204 |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Sage green, gray-green | Pale green-blue-gray, coastal sage |
| LRV | 30 | 63 |
| Approximate hex | #95978A | #CDD2CA |
| Undertone | Gray and greige cast, moodier | Green-blue that shifts with the light |
| Loves | Depth, drama, cozy grounding | Small baths, dim bedrooms, airy coastal palettes |
| Watch out for | Going flat in a dim room | Fading toward off-white in strong sun |
| Overall vibe | Quiet, grounded, moody | Light, breezy, barely-there |
Try it on your house
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LRV figures are the published values from Sherwin-Williams. Hex values are approximate digital renderings only, and screens vary; the authoritative reference is always a physical paint chip from the retailer.
Upload one photo, get a photorealistic render, then swap to Sea Salt in one click. Free, no signup.
Room by room, exposure by exposure
| Situation | Usual winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| North-facing room | Sea Salt | The higher LRV (63) keeps the room from closing in under cool, flat light. |
| Bright south room | Evergreen Fog | Strong sun washes Sea Salt toward off-white; Evergreen Fog holds its depth and reads richer. |
| Kitchen with white cabinets | Sea Salt | The breezy green-blue reads cleanly against white and keeps the kitchen feeling open. |
| Bedroom | Evergreen Fog | The moodier LRV 30 reads calm and cocooning, which is what most bedrooms want. |
| Small or dim room | Sea Salt | The LRV 63 bounces what little light exists; Evergreen Fog can feel heavy here. |
| Whole main floor, open plan | Sea Salt | Airier LRV 63 flows better across connected spaces and different exposures. |
The pattern is consistent: Sea Salt, with its higher LRV of 63, wins wherever light is scarce or you want the room to feel open. Evergreen Fog, with its LRV of 30, wins wherever you want depth, drama, or a grounded mood. If your room gets a lot of natural light, Evergreen Fog will reward you. If it does not, Sea Salt is the safer, softer call. The 33-point LRV gap between them is not a rounding error, it is a visible difference you can check on your own wall.
When to choose Evergreen Fog
- Your room gets strong natural light for most of the day, so the LRV 30 reads rich instead of flat.
- You want a moody, grounded, cocooning feel, especially in a bedroom, den, dining room, or powder room.
- You like a sage with a gray and greige cast, where the green stays quiet and the gray does the talking.
- You are pairing it with warm wood, brass, or cream trim and you want depth as the contrast. For the full breakdown, see our Evergreen Fog undertones and best rooms guide.
When to choose Sea Salt
- Your room is small, dim, or north-facing, and you need the LRV 63 to keep the space from feeling heavy.
- You want a breezy, coastal sage that reads as a color but never weighs the room down.
- You are painting a kitchen with white cabinets, or any space where an airy, open feel matters more than drama.
- You are doing an open-plan main floor where one color has to flow across several rooms and exposures. For more on this lighter sage, see our Sea Salt undertones and best rooms guide, and for a related lighter-vs-deeper matchup, our Sea Salt vs Comfort Gray duel.
Same wall, both sages, your actual light. Free render in about 30 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Evergreen Fog and Sea Salt?
The main difference is depth. Evergreen Fog SW 9130 has an LRV of 30 and a gray-greige cast, so it reads deeper and moodier. Sea Salt SW 6204 has an LRV of 63 and a green-blue that shifts with the light, so it reads lighter, airier, and more coastal. Both are Sherwin-Williams sages, so the choice comes down to how much light your room gets and how much depth you want, not undertone.
Which is lighter, Evergreen Fog or Sea Salt?
Sea Salt is lighter. Its LRV is 63, compared with 30 for Evergreen Fog. That 33-point gap is real and visible on the wall: Sea Salt bounces more light and feels airy, while Evergreen Fog absorbs more light and feels grounded. If your room is dim or small, Sea Salt is usually the safer pick.
Do Evergreen Fog and Sea Salt have the same undertones?
They are in the same sage-green family, but they lean differently. Evergreen Fog carries a gray and greige cast that pulls it moodier and quieter. Sea Salt has a green-blue quality that lets it read coastal and shifty. Calling them identical is the common mistake; the depth and the gray-vs-blue-green lean are what separate them.
Can I see both colors on my own wall before I buy paint?
Yes. Upload one photo of your room to FacadeColorizer, get a photorealistic render in Evergreen Fog, then swap to Sea Salt in one click. You will see the 33-point LRV gap on your actual wall, in your actual light, which is the only honest way to settle this duel. The first HD render and three color variations are free.
1 HD render plus 3 free color variations. Start with Evergreen Fog, swap to Sea Salt in one click.
Trademark notice. Sherwin-Williams, Evergreen Fog and Sea Salt are trademarks of The Sherwin-Williams Company. FacadeColorizer is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sherwin-Williams. Brand and color names are used descriptively (nominative fair use). Hex and RGB values are approximate digital renderings; the only authoritative reference is a physical paint sample.
Trademarks mentioned (Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr, Caparol, Brillux, Sto, Alpina, Valspar, PPG, Glidden, Dulux, Crown Trade, Sandtex, Farrow & Ball, Johnstone's, Leyland) are property of their respective owners. FacadeColorizer is independent and not affiliated with any of them. Nominative fair use under Lanham Act §1125.
