Balsam vs Sourdough paint color comparison

Balsam vs Sourdough

BalsamPPGvsSourdoughPPGΔE 9.8Noticeable difference

Both are PPG colors. Hue-wise, Balsam belongs to the green-grey family and Sourdough to the beige family. At LRV 62 vs 53, Sourdough will read as the brighter of the two — a 9-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 9.8, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.

Color Details

Balsam
PPG · PPG1128-4
LRV53.0
BrandPPG
NumberPPG1128-4
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium
Sourdough
PPG · PPG1084-3
LRV62.0
BrandPPG
NumberPPG1084-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessLight

Balsam vs Sourdough Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balsam on one side and Sourdough 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 Balsam comparisons

See how Balsam stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

Ammonite
Ammonite
Balsam
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

At LRV 69 vs 53, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.

White Dove
White Dove
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 53), opening up a space where Balsam encloses it.

Iron Ore
Balsam
Iron Ore
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.

Purbeck Stone
Purbeck Stone
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 53 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Evergreen Fog
Balsam
Evergreen Fog
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

At LRV 53 vs 30, Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.

Mizzle
Mizzle
Balsam
Mizzle vs Balsam
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

With LRVs of 53 and 52, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

Agreeable Gray
Balsam
Agreeable Gray
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

A 7-point LRV gap (60 vs 53) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.

Accessible Beige
Balsam
Accessible Beige
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 53), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Denim Drift
Denim Drift
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.

French Gray
French Gray
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

A 10-point LRV gap (53 vs 43) makes Balsam the marginally brighter of the two.

Naval
Balsam
Naval
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

At LRV 53 vs 4, Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.

Tranquil Dawn
Tranquil Dawn
Balsam
Tranquil Dawn vs Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

With LRVs of 55 and 53, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

Bancha
Bancha
Balsam
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.

Hardwick White
Hardwick White
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Balsam reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Pure White
Balsam
Pure White
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

At LRV 84 vs 53, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.

Artichoke
Balsam
Artichoke
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

At LRV 53 vs 21, Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.

Balboa Mist
Balboa Mist
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 53), opening up a space where Balsam encloses it.

Shoji White
Balsam
Shoji White
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 53), opening up a space where Balsam encloses it.

Snowbound
Balsam
Snowbound
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 53), opening up a space where Balsam encloses it.

Pigeon
Pigeon
Balsam
Farrow & Ball
Pigeon
LRV 51
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 53 vs 51), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Pewter Green
Balsam
Pewter Green
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.

Duck Green
Duck Green
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.

Skimming Stone
Skimming Stone
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 53), opening up a space where Balsam encloses it.

Dix Blue
Dix Blue
Balsam
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

At LRV 53 vs 41, Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.

Hicks' Blue
Hicks' Blue
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Hicks' Blue vs Balsam

Slaked Lime Deep
Slaked Lime Deep
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Slaked Lime Deep vs Balsam

Vintage Vogue
Vintage Vogue
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.

Livid
Livid
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Livid vs Balsam

Saybrook Sage
Saybrook Sage
Balsam
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53

Balsam reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Pale Green
Balsam
Pale Green
PPG
Balsam
PPG1128-4 · LRV 53
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

At LRV 53 vs 31, Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.