Green Balsam vs Iron Ore
Green Balsam is a Behr color while Iron Ore comes from Sherwin-Williams. Green Balsam reads as green-grey, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 39 vs 6, Green Balsam will read as the brighter of the two — a 33-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Green Balsam's green character against Iron Ore's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 41.5, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Green Balsam vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Green Balsam and Iron Ore in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Green Balsam will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Green Balsam will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Green Balsam will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Color Details
Green Balsam vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Green Balsam on one side and Iron Ore 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.
At LRV 69 vs 39, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 39), opening up a space where Green Balsam 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.
A 12-point LRV gap (51 vs 39) makes Pigeon the marginally brighter of the two.
Green Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Green Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck 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.
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.