Balboa Mist vs Portland Gray
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. Hue-wise, Balboa Mist belongs to the beige-greige family and Portland Gray to the greige-grey family. Balboa Mist (LRV 66) reflects noticeably more light than Portland Gray (LRV 60), a difference of 5 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. The ΔE 4.3 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 Portland Gray in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Balboa Mist and Portland 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.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Balboa Mist has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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 reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Portland Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Portland 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.
