Balboa Mist vs Serenely
Balboa Mist (Benjamin Moore) and Serenely (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Balboa Mist belongs to the beige-greige family and Serenely to the blue-grey family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 66 vs 66 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Balboa Mist leans red, Serenely reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 6.3 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs Serenely in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Balboa Mist and Serenely 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 Serenely 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. Serenely 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. Serenely reads more restrained here, while Balboa Mist adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Serenely Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Serenely 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.
