The floor finish is the reference
Judge Drift Of Mist against your actual wood finish, not a generic wood species label. The starting material direction here is white trim and pale oak. Drift of Mist is lighter than Gossamer Veil and close to Pale Oak in reflectance, without being established as a formula match.
Connected spaces often differ more in light and fixed materials than the sample chips suggest, making the weakest-lit room an important constraint.
Test the dominant wood color, not one grain line
Use Drift Of Mist and Gossamer Veil to clarify the wood-floor choice against white trim and pale oak. Keep the sample edges touching the fixed material, and cover one color before judging the other. Near-neutrals can look noticeably different side by side; the final choice still needs to work on its own. Record the specific relationship you prefer, such as a clearer trim outline or a quieter connection to the floor.
Drift Of Mist has an LRV of 69; Sherwin-Williams Gossamer Veil SW-9165 is 62. The difference is 7 points, with Drift Of Mist returning more light under the reference measurement.
The condition for keeping Drift Of Mist
Compare one board in each connected space at the same time so the decision reflects the weakest light as well as the best. The undertones and neighboring colors covers that related choice.
Keep the Drift Of Mist board vertical at the floor edge. A match to one pale grain line can misrepresent the dominant color across the installed floor. Judge the broad timber background from standing height. If the floor will be refinished, repeat the comparison with the approved new stain sample before ordering the wall paint. The coordinating color options covers that related choice. Before ordering samples, compare room-planning features in the paint color visualizer roundup.
Sources & notes
Color specifications: Sherwin-Williams Drift Of Mist SW-9166. The recorded LRV is 69. Named comparison values come from the respective manufacturers; material schemes are editorial suggestions.
This guide reviews published color information and proposes practical sample checks. It does not claim first-hand paint testing or customer-review scores. Sherwin-Williams does not sponsor or endorse this site. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Confirm the color in a physical sample and select the coating for the actual surface and finish.