Balboa Mist vs Pearl Gray
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. Hue-wise, Balboa Mist belongs to the beige-greige family and Pearl Gray to the green-grey family. Pearl Gray (LRV 74) reflects noticeably more light than Balboa Mist (LRV 66), a difference of 8 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Balboa Mist runs red while Pearl Gray is decidedly green, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 4.5 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs Pearl Gray in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Balboa Mist and Pearl Gray 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.
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. Pearl Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Balboa Mist.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Pearl Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Pearl Gray 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.
