Balboa Mist vs Hinting Blue
Balboa Mist (Benjamin Moore) and Hinting Blue (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige, while Hinting Blue reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 66 vs 68 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Balboa Mist leans red, Hinting Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 9.0 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs Hinting Blue in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Balboa Mist and Hinting Blue 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.
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. Balboa Mist brings more warmth to the space, while Hinting Blue keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Hinting Blue reads more restrained here, while Balboa Mist adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Hinting Blue reads more restrained here, while Balboa Mist adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Home Office
Home office walls matter more than most — you're looking at them all day, and a color that reads fine at first can become tiring over time. Hinting Blue reads more restrained here, while Balboa Mist adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Hinting Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Hinting Blue 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.
