Balboa Mist vs Traffic purple
Where Balboa Mist belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Traffic purple is a RAL Classic color. Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige, while Traffic purple reads as pink-purple — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Balboa Mist (LRV 66) reflects noticeably more light than Traffic purple (LRV 13), a difference of 53 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 71.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs Traffic purple in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Balboa Mist and Traffic purple in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Balboa Mist reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Traffic purple.
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 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Traffic purple.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Balboa Mist reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Traffic purple.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Traffic purple Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Traffic purple 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.
