Balboa Mist vs RAL 780-3
Where Balboa Mist belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, RAL 780-3 is a RAL Effect color. Hue-wise, Balboa Mist belongs to the beige-greige family and RAL 780-3 to the beige family. Balboa Mist (LRV 66) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 780-3 (LRV 57), a difference of 9 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 19.9, 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 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs RAL 780-3 in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Balboa Mist and RAL 780-3 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 RAL 780-3.
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 RAL 780-3.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Balboa Mist reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 780-3.
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 RAL 780-3.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs RAL 780-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and RAL 780-3 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.
