Balboa Mist vs RAL 790-M
Where Balboa Mist belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, RAL 790-M is a RAL Effect color. Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige, while RAL 790-M reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Balboa Mist (LRV 66) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 790-M (LRV 4), a difference of 62 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 73.8, 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 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs RAL 790-M in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Balboa Mist and RAL 790-M 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Balboa Mist will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than RAL 790-M would.
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 790-M.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs RAL 790-M Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and RAL 790-M 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.
