S 1502-Y vs Balboa Mist
S 1502-Y (NCS) and Balboa Mist (Benjamin Moore) come from different manufacturers. S 1502-Y reads as greige-grey, while Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 64 vs 66 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where S 1502-Y leans warm, Balboa Mist reads red — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.1 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
S 1502-Y vs Balboa Mist in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. S 1502-Y and Balboa Mist 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. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
@coloramalycksele
@mrandmrs.homebody
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.
@villaramshammar
@aspainting2003
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
@villaviljan
@sherryhdesigns
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
@livet.vi.lever
@irwincabinetworks
Color Details
S 1502-Y vs Balboa Mist Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see S 1502-Y on one side and Balboa Mist 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 S 1502-Y comparisons
See how S 1502-Y stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reads lighter
NCS vs Benjamin Moore
NCS vs Farrow & Ball
NCS vs Farrow & Ball
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Sherwin-Williams
S 1502-Y reads lighter
NCS vs Farrow & Ball
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Sherwin-Williams
S 1502-Y reads lighter
NCS vs Farrow & Ball
NCS vs Sherwin-Williams
NCS vs Sherwin-Williams
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Dulux
S 1502-Y reads lighter
NCS vs Dulux
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Benjamin Moore
S 1502-Y reads lighter
NCS vs Benjamin Moore
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs RAL Classic
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Dulux
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs RAL Classic
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs RAL Classic
NCS vs Tikkurila
NCS vs Tikkurila
NCS vs Jotun
NCS vs Jotun
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Little Greene
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Jotun
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Little Greene
S 1502-Y reads lighter
NCS vs Jotun
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Little Greene
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Valspar
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Behr
S 1502-Y reads lighter
NCS vs Behr
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Behr
NCS vs RAL Effect
NCS vs RAL Effect
RAL 110-1 reads lighter
NCS vs RAL Effect
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Tikkurila
Light vs dark contrast
NCS vs Valspar