Balboa Mist vs Gray Lake
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige, while Gray Lake reads as green-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Gray Lake (LRV 79) reflects noticeably more light than Balboa Mist (LRV 66), a difference of 13 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Balboa Mist runs red while Gray Lake is decidedly green, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 6.9 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs Gray Lake in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Balboa Mist and Gray Lake are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Gray Lake reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Balboa Mist.
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. Gray Lake reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Balboa Mist.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Gray Lake Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Gray Lake 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.
