Looking for the perfect light neutral paint color for your home? Let’s compare Balboa Mist vs Pale Oak to see if one might be perfect for your space!
Light neutral paint colors are like a blank canvas for your walls – cozy, warm, and inviting.
Those in-between shades of white, gray, and greige are a hit because they’re soft and easy to match with any decor.
But with so many options, it can get overwhelming. That’s where details like LRV and undertones come in handy.
Today I want to compare two super popular shades of neutral paint – Balboa Mist and Pale Oak.
Let’s talk about what makes each of them stand out.
Read my full review of Balboa Mist
Read my full review of Pale Oak
Balboa Mist vs Pale Oak
You’ll notice that Balboa Mist and Pale Oak are quite similar paint colors. They both straddle the line between warm off-white, gray, and greige.
What is similar about Balboa Mist vs Pale Oak?
When you compare them side by side, Balboa Mist and Pale Oak often look alike, despite Balboa Mist being considered more of an off-white and Pale Oak leaning towards a warm gray or greige.
Both colors are great choices for many rooms in your home. Some even use Balboa Mist or Pale Oak as whole house paint colors.
Just remember to swatch the colors in your space first, because lighting can really impact how they appear on your walls.
What is different about Balboa Mist vs Pale Oak?
There are a few small differences between Balboa Mist and Pale Oak. Overall, Pale Oak is a bit more muted, warmer, and gray, and Balboa Mist is a bit lighter, cooler, and leans more towards off-white.
Pale Oak has a Light Reflective Value (LRV) of 70, making it slightly brighter than Balboa Mist, which has an LRV of 66.
When it comes to undertones, Balboa Mist has soft violet and beige hints, while Pale Oak leans towards warm yellow tones with hints of violet and pink.
| Balboa Mist | Pale Oak | |
| LRV | 66 | 70 |
| RBG | R: 218 G: 213 B: 204 | R:222 G:216 B:205 |
| Undertones | soft violet and beige | warm yellow, slight violet and pink |
Light Reflectance Value
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.
Both Balboa Mist and Pale Oak are light and bright without being too light.
Balboa Mist has an LRV of 66, and Pale Oak has an LRV of 70. This means Balboa Mist is a bit darker than Pale Oak.
Undertones
Both Balboa Mist and Pale Oak have warm undertones. Balboa Mist has soft violet and beige undertones. Pale Oak has warm yellow undertones, along with slight violet and pink undertones.
In south-facing rooms with lots of natural light, Balboa Mist will look more like a soft, warm white. Pale Oak will look creamy and off-white.
In north-facing rooms without much natural light, Balboa Mist will look like more of a gray or a greige. Pale Oak will also look more gray, possibly even a bit pink or purple.
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!
How do I decide between these two colors?
Balboa Mist and Pale Oak are very similar colors. If you prefer more of an off-white look, go with Balboa Mist. On the other hand, if you lean towards gray, Pale Oak is your best bet.
For north-facing or dimly lit rooms, you may want to go with Balboa Mist, as Pale Oak may show those slight pink and violet undertones.
In a south-facing room, Balboa Mist is a great choice if you want a soft, warm white. If you want something a bit creamier and slightly darker, Pale Oak is a great choice.
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!
Benjamin Moore Pale Oak 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!
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.