Green Balsam vs Black grey

Green BalsamBehrvsBlack greyRAL ClassicΔE 49.5Very different colors

Green Balsam (Behr) and Black grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Green Balsam reads as green-grey, while Black grey reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 32-point LRV gap — 39 for Green Balsam vs 6 for Black grey — means Green Balsam will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 49.5 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 Black grey in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Green Balsam and Black grey in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

House

A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Green Balsam returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Green BalsamBehr Green Balsam exterior

@craftsmanupgrade

Black greyRAL Classic Black grey 7021 house exterior

@ebbandflow_home

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. Green Balsam returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Green BalsamBehr PPU11-15 kitchen cabinets

@carpentrybydesign_

Black greyRAL Classic 7021 kitchen cabinets paint review

@a.jak.agata

Color Details

Green Balsam
Behr · PPU11-15
Hex#a0ac9e
LRV38.7
BrandBehr
NumberPPU11-15
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Black grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7021
Hex#2F3234
LRV6.5
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7021
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Green Balsam vs Black grey Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Green Balsam on one side and Black grey on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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
Green Balsam
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Green Balsam
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Green Balsam
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Green Balsam is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Green Balsam
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Green Balsam
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Green Balsam reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Green Balsam
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Green Balsam
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Green Balsam
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Green Balsam reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Green Balsam
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Green Balsam
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Green Balsam
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Green Balsam is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Green Balsam
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Green Balsam reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Green Balsam
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Green Balsam is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Green Balsam
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Green Balsam reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
Green Balsam
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Green Balsam
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Grey Blue
Green Balsam
Grey Blue
RAL ClassicClassic
Grey Blue
LRV 7

Green Balsam is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Green Balsam
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Green Balsam reads slightly lighter

Senses
Green Balsam
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
Green Balsam
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Green Balsam is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Green Balsam
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads noticeably lighter

Tea with Florence
Green Balsam
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Green Balsam reads noticeably lighter

Thames Fog
Green Balsam
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Green Balsam reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Green Balsam
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Green Balsam is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Green Balsam
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Green Balsam
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Green Balsam reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Green Balsam
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Green Balsam
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Green Balsam
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Green Balsam
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Green Balsam reads noticeably lighter