Kauai vs Balboa Mist
Kauai (Behr) and Balboa Mist (Benjamin Moore) come from different manufacturers. Kauai reads as blue-green, while Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 29-point LRV gap — 66 for Balboa Mist vs 37 for Kauai — means Balboa Mist will open up a space more effectively. Where Kauai leans green, Balboa Mist reads red — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 39.4 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.
Kauai vs Balboa Mist in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Kauai and Balboa Mist in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Balboa Mist returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Balboa Mist returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Kauai vs Balboa Mist Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Kauai on one side and Balboa Mist 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 Kauai comparisons
See how Kauai stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 37, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 37), opening up a space where Kauai encloses it.
Kauai reads slightly lighter (LRV 37 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 37), opening up a space where Kauai encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 37, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (37 vs 27) makes Kauai the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 37), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 37, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (44 vs 37) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 37), opening up a space where Kauai encloses it.
At LRV 74 vs 37, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 37 vs 12, Kauai is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 37, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 37 vs 12, Kauai is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (45 vs 37) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
Kauai reads slightly lighter (LRV 37 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Kauai reflects far more light (LRV 37 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Kauai reflects far more light (LRV 37 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 37), opening up a space where Kauai encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 37), opening up a space where Kauai encloses it.