Athens Blue vs Balboa Mist
Athens Blue and Balboa Mist come from the same Benjamin Moore collection. Hue-wise, Athens Blue belongs to the blue family and Balboa Mist to the beige-greige family. The 47-point LRV gap — 66 for Balboa Mist vs 19 for Athens Blue — means Balboa Mist will open up a space more effectively. Where Athens Blue leans blue, Balboa Mist reads red — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 55.7 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Athens Blue vs Balboa Mist in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Athens Blue 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.
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
Athens Blue vs Balboa Mist Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Athens Blue 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 Athens Blue comparisons
See how Athens Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
