Green Balsam vs Calamine
Green Balsam (Behr) and Calamine (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Green Balsam reads as green-grey, while Calamine reads as pink-red — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 29-point LRV gap — 68 for Calamine vs 39 for Green Balsam — means Calamine will open up a space more effectively. Where Green Balsam leans green, Calamine reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 21.0 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Green Balsam vs Calamine in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Green Balsam and Calamine in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Calamine returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Calamine returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Green Balsam vs Calamine Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Green Balsam on one side and Calamine 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 Green Balsam comparisons
See how Green Balsam stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 39), opening up a space where Green Balsam encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 39, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Green Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 39, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (39 vs 30) makes Green Balsam the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 39), opening up a space where Green Balsam encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 39, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 39), opening up a space where Green Balsam encloses it.
Green Balsam reads slightly lighter (LRV 39 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 5-point LRV gap (43 vs 39) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 39 vs 4, Green Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 39), opening up a space where Green Balsam encloses it.
Green Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 39), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 39, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 39 vs 21, Green Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 39), opening up a space where Green Balsam encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 39), opening up a space where Green Balsam encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 39), opening up a space where Green Balsam encloses it.
Green Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 39), opening up a space where Green Balsam encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 41 vs 39), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 39 vs 25, Green Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.
Green Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 39), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (39 vs 31) makes Green Balsam the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 39 vs 7, Green Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 39 vs 24, Green Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 39, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 39, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.