Amber vs Balboa Mist
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. Hue-wise, Amber belongs to the beige family and Balboa Mist to the beige-greige family. Balboa Mist (LRV 66) reflects noticeably more light than Amber (LRV 27), a difference of 39 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean red, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 51.5, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Amber vs Balboa Mist in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Amber 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.
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 Balboa Mist will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Amber 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. Balboa Mist reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Amber.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Balboa Mist reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Amber.
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. Balboa Mist reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Amber.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Balboa Mist reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Amber.
Color Details
Amber vs Balboa Mist Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Amber 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 Amber comparisons
See how Amber stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
