Balboa Mist vs Passive
Where Balboa Mist belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Passive is a Sherwin-Williams color. Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige, while Passive reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Balboa Mist (LRV 66) reflects noticeably more light than Passive (LRV 60), a difference of 6 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Balboa Mist runs red while Passive is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 5.6 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs Passive in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Balboa Mist and Passive 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
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 brightness difference is modest but present — Balboa Mist gives the walls a little more lift.
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 reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Balboa Mist has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Passive Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Passive 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.
