Balboa Mist vs Iron Ore
Where Balboa Mist belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Iron Ore is a Sherwin-Williams color. Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Balboa Mist (LRV 66) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 60 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Balboa Mist runs warm while Iron Ore is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 57.5, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist 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 Balboa Mist comparisons
See how Balboa Mist stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 66, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reads slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 66), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 52, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 8-point LRV gap (66 vs 58) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 66 vs 27, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (66 vs 55) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 66 vs 13, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 44, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 66), opening up a space where Balboa Mist encloses it.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 66 vs 66), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 9-point LRV gap (74 vs 66) makes Shoji White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 83 vs 66, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 12, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 68 vs 66), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
With LRVs of 68 and 66, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 12, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 45, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 57), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Just Walnut reads slightly lighter (LRV 72 vs 66), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.