Mole's Breath vs Passageway

Mole's BreathFarrow & BallvsPassagewayValsparΔE 17.8Distinct difference

Mole's Breath (Farrow & Ball) and Passageway (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Mole's Breath belongs to the grey family and Passageway to the blue-grey family. The 10-point LRV gap — 24 for Mole's Breath vs 14 for Passageway — means Mole's Breath will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 17.8 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Mole's Breath vs Passageway in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Mole's Breath and Passageway in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

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. Mole's Breath reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Passageway.

Mole's BreathFarrow and Ball Mole's Breath cozy living room interior

@thegreeneyedgirl_

PassagewayValspar Passageway victorian living room color

@seenfromthegreen

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. Mole's Breath returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Mole's BreathFarrow and Ball Mole's Breath cozy bedroom paint review

@housenearmeadow

PassagewayValspar Passageway bedroom paint

@beaus_home

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. Mole's Breath returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Mole's BreathFarrow and Ball Mole's Breath modern bathroom

@overton_renovation_

PassagewayPassageway bathroom wall panelling color

@renovation_for_2

Color Details

Mole's Breath
Farrow & Ball · 276
Hex#8b857f
LRV24.1
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number276
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark
Passageway
Valspar · V137-6
Hex#596c77
LRV14.2
BrandValspar
NumberV137-6
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Mole's Breath vs Passageway Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Mole's Breath on one side and Passageway on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Mole's Breath comparisons

See how Mole's Breath stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Mole's Breath
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Mole's Breath
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Mole's Breath
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Mole's Breath reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
Mole's Breath
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Mole's Breath
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Mole's Breath
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Mole's Breath
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Mole's Breath
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Tranquil Dawn
Mole's Breath
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Mole's Breath
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Mole's Breath
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Mole's Breath reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
Mole's Breath
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Mole's Breath
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Mole's Breath reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
Mole's Breath
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Nearly identical in tone

Black grey
Mole's Breath
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Mole's Breath reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
Mole's Breath
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Mole's Breath
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Mole's Breath
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads slightly lighter

Senses
Mole's Breath
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Mole's Breath
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Mole's Breath reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
Mole's Breath
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Mole's Breath
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Mole's Breath reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Mole's Breath
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Mole's Breath
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Mole's Breath reads noticeably lighter

Classic Silver
Mole's Breath
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
Mole's Breath
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Mole's Breath
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Mole's Breath
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Mole's Breath
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

RAL 180-1
Mole's Breath
RAL 180-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 180-1
LRV 49

RAL 180-1 reads noticeably lighter