Balsam vs Hazel Gaze
Where Balsam belongs to PPG's range, Hazel Gaze is a Sherwin-Williams color. These are both green-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within green-grey to land. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (53 vs 51), so they'll read as similarly Medium in most lighting conditions. At ΔE 2.0, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. 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 vs Hazel Gaze Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balsam on one side and Hazel Gaze 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 Balsam comparisons
See how Balsam stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 53), opening up a space where Balsam encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 53 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 53 vs 30, Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (60 vs 53) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 53), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (53 vs 43) makes Balsam the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 55 and 53, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Balsam reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 53, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 53), opening up a space where Balsam encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 53), opening up a space where Balsam encloses it.
Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 53), opening up a space where Balsam encloses it.
Balsam reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Balsam reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 53 vs 31, Balsam is decisively the brighter choice.