Looking for the perfect gray paint color for your home? Let’s talk about Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist and if it might be right for your home!
There are many gorgeous neutrals out there. If you’re looking for a neutral with a hint of warmth, pale grays / off-whites may be what you’re looking for!
These colors are soothing and cozy while still providing the blank slate of white—without the starkness of white!
Pale grays / off-whites are a popular choice because they’re easy to decorate with. Let’s talk about the details of one: Balboa Mist!
Balboa Mist, Benjamin Moore, OC-27
Balboa Mist is a pale, slightly warm gray. It’s a great neutral that pairs well with virtually any color, style, or finish.
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Balboa Mist
Color Family
Balboa Mist is in the off-white family.
Light Reflectance Value
66
Light Reflective Value is the measurement of how much light a color bounces around. This is on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being pure black and 100 being pure white.
With an LRV of 66, Balboa Mist often appears as a pale gray despite being a very dark off-white.
RGB Colors
R: 218 G: 213 B: 204
RGB describes the amount of each color – red, green, and blue – present in a color. This is on a scale of 0 to 255 for each color. This is basically the color mix to make the color!
Hex Code
#DAD5CC
Undertones
Balboa Mist has soft violet and beige undertones.
In south-facing rooms with lots of natural light, Balboa Mist will look more like a soft, warm white.
In north-facing rooms without much natural light, Balboa Mist will look like more of a gray or a greige.
It’s very important to swatch colors on your wall to make sure they look good – day and night – in your actual space before committing.
Click here to get removable peel & stick paint samples to easily swatch with!
Best uses
Consider using Balboa Mist for:
- Living rooms
- Bedrooms
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Home exterior
- Interior doors
- Cabinets
- Furniture
Similar Colors
- Benjamin Moore Athena
- Behr Campfire Ash
- Sherwin Williams Winter Walk
- Benjamin Moore Olympic Mountains
- Benjamin Moore Light Pewter
- Benjamin Moore Wind’s Breath
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Balboa Mist
Coordinating Colors
As a light neutral, Balboa Mist pairs well with many other colors, including grays darker than itself, browns, blacks, darker greiges, bright whites, blues, greens, and light pinks.
Dark grays:
- Flint
- Temptation
- Deep Space
- Anchor Gray
- Gray (yes, the real color name is Gray!)
Dark browns (especially those with a violet undertone):
- Barista
- Cup o’ Java
- Pine Cone Brown
- Classic Brown
- Mississippi Mud
Pale blues:
- Glass Slipper
- Mountain Mist
- Iceberg
- Glacier Lake
- Lookout Point
Trim Colors
Balboa Mist pairs well with bright, clean whites for trim.
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Sherwin Williams Extra White
- Behr Ultra Pure White
Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist color palette
Want to use this paint color in your home? Instantly upgrade your home’s aesthetic with our exclusive paint color palette. Unlock the perfect trim color and six stunning accent colors, a combination of neutrals and bold hues for an instantly harmonious space!
Get your perfect paint color palette by clicking here!
Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Balboa Mist
FAQS
Here are some common frequently asked questions about Balboa Mist.
Is BM Balboa Mist a good trim color?
BM Balboa Mist is not a great choice for trim. With an LRV of 66, it’s often too dark for trim.
Does BM Balboa Mist look white?
BM Balboa Mist may look like a soft white in south-facing rooms that get a lot of natural light. This makes it a great choice for exteriors if you’re looking for a soft white.
BM Balboa Mist will not look white in north-facing rooms or interior rooms, such as bathrooms or basements. In these darker spaces, Balboa Mist will often look more like a gray or greige.
It’s always best to swatch colors in your space before committing.
Does BM Balboa Mist look green?
BM Balboa Mist very rarely looks green.
However, in spaces with lots of very warm natural light (such as south-facing rooms) that are surrounded by trees or greenery, Balboa Mist may look slightly green. This is not often the case, but it happens!
It’s always best to swatch colors in your space before committing.
What’s the difference: BM Balboa Mist vs Classic Gray?
BM Balboa Mist and Classic Gray share some similarities. However, Classic Gray is lighter, with an LRV of 74 vs Balboa Mist’s LRV of 66.
Balboa Mist is also warmer than Classic Gray.
It’s always best to swatch colors in your space before committing.
Does Balboa Mist go with white trim?
Yes, Balboa Mist looks great with white trim. I prefer to pair it with a bright white trim color, such as BM Simply White, SW Extra White, or Behr Ultra Pure White.
What’s the difference: BM Balboa Mist vs Pale Oak?
BM Balboa Mist and Pale Oak are similar colors, even though Balboa Mist is considered an off-white and Pale Oak is considered a warm gray or greige.
Pale Oak is a bit lighter, with an LRV of 70 vs Balboa Mist’s LRV of 66. Pale Oak is also a bit more muted than Balboa Mist.
Balboa Mist has soft violet and beige undertones, and Pale Oak has warm yellow undertones, plus some slight pink and violet undertones.
It’s always best to swatch colors in your space before committing.
Before you go…
So, you’ve found the perfect paint color, but here’s the thing – there’s another big decision you have to make: picking the right paint sheen. Seriously, the level of glossiness can totally change how your color looks on the walls and how long the paint lasts!
Check out our complete guide to understanding paint sheens.
Still not sure what paint color to choose?
My Paint Color Formula ebook walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.
The best way to sample paint? Samplize!
Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!
Thanks for reading!
Meg Hemmelgarn is a freelance writer and home decor + DIY blogger who loves to talk about paint colors. She and her husband are currently renovating their third fixer upper. You can see their projects on her blog, Green With Decor.