Balboa Mist vs Buttermilk
Balboa Mist (Benjamin Moore) and Buttermilk (Dulux) come from different manufacturers. Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige, while Buttermilk reads as beige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 11-point LRV gap — 77 for Buttermilk vs 66 for Balboa Mist — means Buttermilk will open up a space more effectively. Where Balboa Mist leans red, Buttermilk reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 14.4 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs Buttermilk in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Balboa Mist and Buttermilk in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Buttermilk reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Balboa Mist.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Buttermilk returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Buttermilk returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Buttermilk Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Buttermilk 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.
