Soft Fern and October Mist: the documented difference
Soft Fern has an LRV of 56.67; Benjamin Moore October Mist 1495 is 46.54. The difference is 10.13 points, with Soft Fern returning more light under the reference measurement. Choose by the material relationship as well as the number. Soft Fern is lighter than October Mist and Saybrook Sage, making it a useful option when the room needs less green depth. October Mist is a shaded sage that gives green a subdued starting point.
| Color | Brand / code | LRV |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Fern | Benjamin Moore 2144-40 | 56.67 |
| October Mist | Benjamin Moore 1495 | 46.54 |
The choice beside ivory upholstery and pale oak
Ivory seating supplies a large pale neighbor; the wall should retain enough definition behind it to justify the colored paint.
Set up both candidates with ivory upholstery and pale oak. Use equal-sized boards with the intended finishes and place them in the same orientation. Do not put one directly beside a window and leave the other in shadow. A difference that follows the position rather than the board is a lighting observation, not evidence that the formula changed.
What the comparison can—and cannot—settle
For a second point of reference, Saybrook Sage is recorded at LRV 45.46. The undertones and neighboring colors covers that related choice.
Check the wall behind the sofa in bright light; the desired fern-green should remain visible without extra green accessories. Assess Soft Fern and October Mist alone as well as side by side. The unchosen board will not remain in the finished room, and a preference created only by that neighbor may not survive its removal. Before ordering samples, compare room-planning features in the paint color visualizer roundup.
Sources & notes
Color specifications: Benjamin Moore Soft Fern 2144-40. The recorded LRV is 56.67. 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. Benjamin Moore 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.