Balboa Mist vs Rare Gray
Balboa Mist is a Benjamin Moore color while Rare Gray comes from Sherwin-Williams. Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige, while Rare Gray reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 66 vs 38, Balboa Mist will read as the brighter of the two — a 28-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Balboa Mist's red character against Rare Gray's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 17.9, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs Rare Gray in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Balboa Mist and Rare Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The LRV gap is large enough that Balboa Mist will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rare Gray would.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Balboa Mist will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rare Gray would.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Balboa Mist will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Rare Gray would.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Rare Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Rare Gray 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.
