Balboa Mist vs Ionian
Balboa Mist (Benjamin Moore) and Ionian (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige, while Ionian reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 46-point LRV gap — 66 for Balboa Mist vs 20 for Ionian — means Balboa Mist will open up a space more effectively. Where Balboa Mist leans red, Ionian reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 45.0 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs Ionian in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Balboa Mist and Ionian in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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. Balboa Mist 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 Ionian Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Ionian 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.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 66), opening up a space where Balboa Mist encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (69 vs 66) makes Ammonite the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 52, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 30, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 52), opening up a space where Mizzle encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (66 vs 60) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 43, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 4, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 66, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 21, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
Shoji White reads slightly lighter (LRV 74 vs 66), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 66), opening up a space where Balboa Mist encloses it.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
With LRVs of 68 and 66, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 66 vs 41, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 68 vs 66), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 66 vs 25, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 31, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 7, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 24, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (66 vs 57) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
A 6-point LRV gap (72 vs 66) makes Just Walnut the marginally brighter of the two.