Balboa vs RAL 190-3
Where Balboa belongs to Behr's range, RAL 190-3 is a RAL Effect color. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. RAL 190-3 (LRV 67) reflects noticeably more light than Balboa (LRV 58), a difference of 8 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 5.1 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa vs RAL 190-3 in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Balboa and RAL 190-3 are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 190-3 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Balboa would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. RAL 190-3 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Balboa.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. RAL 190-3 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Balboa.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. RAL 190-3 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Balboa.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. RAL 190-3 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Balboa.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. RAL 190-3 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Balboa.
Color Details
Balboa vs RAL 190-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa on one side and RAL 190-3 on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Balboa comparisons
See how Balboa stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
