Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist OC-27: Review & Inspiration

Have you ever looked at gray paint colors and become confused about which to pick? You’re not alone because there are an unbelievable number of gray paint colors in the market.

However, if you want one that doesn’t hold you to ransom because of undertones, you may want to consider Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist OC-27. It is one of the most popular paint colors for a reason, and we will get to that soon.

This guide will cover the paint color’s undertone, LRV, and possible color palettes. You will better understand how the color works and how to use it. Without further ado, let’s get right to it.

When to Choose Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

This paint color has a lot to offer, but you may be stumped when trying to decide when to use it. Fret not; let me show you a few times Balboa Mist is the ideal neutral for your decor.

Have a lot of greenery around the house?

Balboa Mist is the type of neutral that tones down the green in the environment so it doesn’t look too heavy. If you’re not a fan of green reflecting in your paint color, try Balboa Mist for a great effect.

Need a whole-house paint color?

Sometimes, you are not keen to use many colors in your decor. Balboa Mist can act as a whole-house color if that is the case. It is neutral without looking stark or boring.

Want to complement white or bold accents and trims?

Balboa Mist makes bright and crisp whites look brighter and pop without looking washed out. It brings a certain balance that reduces the harsh effect of pure whites, especially when you use them on walls.

Thinking of a neutral for wood flooring and paneling?

If you love wood flooring and paneling and have already used it in your decor, Balboa Mist brings versatility that draws attention to the beautiful wood while adding a different color to the overall decor.

If these ideas answer your Balboa Mist usage question, you are ready to start using the paint color. However, that’s not all I have to show you. Let’s go ahead and find out more about Balboa Mist.

What Color Is Balboa Mist?

If you try to learn why this paint color has this specific name, you may get confused because there’s nothing to indicate that the color has anything to do with the original meaning of the term when separated.

However, the color may be closely associated with the color of the mist because of its lightness and uniqueness.

Benjamin Moore’s Balboa Mist is a pale gray paint color with a certain warmth that brings a glow to the color. Use it if you want a neutral gray paint shade that goes with almost anything.

A Snapshot of the Specifications of Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

The chart in this section shows specific details about Balboa Mist that make it easy to identify and use. These details include the LRV and undertone, which are crucial characteristics of every color.

	Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist
RGB	218, 213, 204
LRV	65.53
Undertone	Pink-violet
HEX Code	#DAD6CC

 

The LRV of Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

You may have seen this term in your research on paint colors without truly understanding it. LRV means the light reflectance value of color and refers to the amount of light the color reflects on a scale of 0 to 100.

The darker the color is, the closer to 0 it is, and the lighter the color is, the closer to 100 it is. That means white is 100, while black is 0. But paint colors use a slightly different scale between 2.5 to 100 because there’s no true black or white in paint colors.

Benjamin Moore’s Balboa Mist has an LRV of 65.53, which means it reflects a fair amount of light. For a gray paint color, Balboa Mist is pretty light without being too bright or looking washed out.

The Undertones of Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

Many users are usually more concerned about the undertones of paint colors than anything else. This is because of how the undertones will interact with other colors in the decor or how they will cause the main color to react to lighting conditions.

Balboa Mist has a slightly pink-purple undertone, but you may also find that the color shows a little green if the setting is right. The undertone is chameleon-like, but it may mostly read pink-purple.

This first photo shows Balboa Mist in its true form, looking pale and reflecting a good amount of light.

And this next one shows Balboa Mist revealing some of its pink-purple undertone.

Now, here is the same paint color showing a hint of green, although you may be tempted to attribute it to the potted plants around it.

How Does Lighting Affect Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist?

Lighting is one of the most crucial factors affecting colors, especially light ones. Colors like Balboa Mist can change with different lighting conditions. Direct sunlight can make Balboa Mist look like it has beige undertones and enhances its warmth.

But in different settings, when there’s no direct sunlight or the light is dim and cold, Balboa Mist tends to reveal more of its gray side, looking muted.

At other times, the lighting may not be direct sunlight but still bright enough to reduce the grayness of the color. Balboa Mist appears pale but bright in this nursery.

Artificial lighting also affects this color. In the event of using Balboa Mist only with artificial light, it is best to keep this fact in mind, especially if it is warm yellow lighting.

How Does Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist Feel in a Room?

Balboa Mist brings a soft glow and coziness that every home needs. You want to come back to a home, not just a house, especially after a long and hard day. As a relatively bright color, it can also make a room appear bigger than usual, which is an advantage for small rooms.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist: Warm or Cool?

Balboa Mist is a warm color, although not every gray paint color is warm. Grays with blue undertones are cool, while those with beige, green, or violet are warm. In this case, the warmth of the color comes from its yellow base, which gives it a slight tilt toward beige.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist Color Strip: Lighter to Darker Exploration

You may find that Balboa Mist is not the exact shade you want. It is also a great idea to have several options even if the paint color is suitable for your decor. Therefore, here is a color strip for Balboa Mist, from light to dark, to give you options.

• Benjamin Moore Classic Gray OC-23
• Benjamin Moore Pale Oak OC-20
• Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist OC-27
• Benjamin Moore Cumulus Cloud 1550
• Benjamin Moore La Paloma Gray 1551
• Benjamin Moore River Reflections 1552

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist Complementary Color

Neutral colors are typically not on the color wheel, so it may be a tad challenging to find their complementary colors. This is because these colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel.

And if you can’t find a specific color on the wheel, locating its complementary color is difficult. However, Balboa Mist is not your regular gray because of the various hues in it. So, you can find its complementary color, which is a pale shade of blue-gray.

Benjamin Moore’s Violet Mist 1437 is the closest to this shade. You can also try Sherwin Williams’ North Star SW 6246 if you want something different from the main brand.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist Coordinating Colors

These are colors that have some similarities, although they may look completely different at face value. The similarities may come from their undertones, subtle hues, or simply from how well they work together.

They present a pleasing appearance when used together. Balboa Mist has several coordinating colors, including Barista, Flint, and Cloud Cover.

• Benjamin Moore Barista AF-175: A rich, deep, and earthy brown whose violet undertone matches the undertone of Balboa Mist.
• Benjamin Moore Flint AF-560: A charcoal gray paint color with a cool blue undertone that enhances the softness and brightness of Balboa Mist.
• Benjamin Moore Cloud Cover OC-25: A bright white paint color whose gray-blue undertone makes it the perfect trim color for the gray Balboa Mist.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist Color Palettes

It is easier to create a color palette to accommodate different shades if you want to paint an entire house. Color palettes allow you to add different shades and colors that work together, and you can create different types based on your specific decor needs.

Contrasting Color Palette

• Hale Navy HC-154: This deep blue paint color contrasts with the light and bright Balboa Mist but creates a striking balance with it.
• Briarwood HC-175: A neutral paint color that looks different from Balboa Mist but whose gray undertone matches the color’s mass tone.
• Summer Shower 2135-60: As the name suggests, this paint color reminds you of light rain on a hot summer day and brings a soft color to complement the neutral Balboa Mist.

Monochromatic Color Palette

• Classic Gray OC-23: A pale shade of gray that works well with Balboa Mist because of the similar undertones.
• Cumulus Cloud 1550: A sweet neutral with a mid-tone balance and gray hint that complements the gray in Balboa Mist.
• La Paloma Gray 1551: Just a shade darker than Cumulus Cloud, La Paloma Gray is a gentle color that pairs well with the lighter Balboa Mist.

Coordinating Color Palette

• Cloud Cover OC-25: A bright white paint color whose gray-blue undertone makes it the perfect trim color for the gray Balboa Mist.
• Flint AF-560: A charcoal gray paint color with a cool blue undertone that enhances the softness and brightness of Balboa Mist.
• Barista AF-175: A rich, deep, and earthy brown whose violet undertone matches the undertone of Balboa Mist.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist vs Similar Colors

You may already be comparing Balboa Mist to similar colors to see if they are more ideal than the color under review. Let’s summarize the similarities and differences between some of them to make the job easier.

BM Pale Oak vs BM Balboa Mist

Pale Oak is brighter and lighter, and its undertone is gray. Balboa Mist is warmer and darker with a pink-purple undertone.

BM Edgecomb Gray vs BM Balboa Mist

Edgecomb Gray is warmer with a green undertone. When paired with Balboa Mist, you will see the difference in their undertones, although they are similarly pale grays.

SW Agreeable Gray vs BM Balboa Mist

Sherwin Williams’ Agreeable Gray is heavier with more depth than Balboa Mist. It also has a lower LRV of 60, making it noticeably darker than Balboa Mist.

BM Classic Gray vs BM Balboa Mist

Classic Gray is much lighter than Balboa Mist, with an LRV of almost 75. While they have similar purple undertones, Balboa Mist creates a better contrast with pure whites and wood tones.

BM Revere Pewter vs BM Balboa Mist

Revere Pewter is significantly darker than Balboa Mist, with an LRV of 55.05. It also has a green undertone, so it completely contrasts with Balboa Mist when paired with it.

BM Collingwood vs BM Balboa Mist

Collingwood is pretty similar to Balboa Mist because they are in the same color family and have similar undertones. However, Balboa Mist is lighter than Collingwood because of a higher LRV.

BM Gray Owl vs BM Balboa Mist

Both paint colors are close in shade because of the LRVs. But Gray Owl has a green undertone, compared to the purple in Balboa Mist.

Sherwin Williams Paint Color Equivalent to Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

Every paint color is unique, so you won’t find an exact equivalent to Balboa Mist. But Sherwin Williams’s Limewash SW 9589 is a close match, especially when you compare the red, green, and blue (RGB) codes of both colors.

Where Can You Use Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist?

This paint color looks great in any room, including the living room, dining nook, bedroom, and bathroom. Let me show you some real examples of Balboa Mist in different rooms.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist in a Living Room

You will notice a pale hint of purple in Balboa Mist in this living room. The neutral color scheme is perfect, but the touches of blue make it even better.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist in a Bedroom

What is there not to love in a room with a view? It becomes even better if you have the right colors on the wall, like Balboa Mist.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist on Kitchen Cabinets

You can see how gray Balboa Mist is when paired with bright whites. The color stands out and looks amazing on these cabinets.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist in a Foyer

If you want to create a welcoming vibe in your entryway or foyer, Balboa Mist should be on your list of paint colors. It’s not overwhelming, pairs well with wood tones, and allows you to use other colors.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist on a Door

Walls are not the only areas to enjoy Balboa Mist. You can also try it on doors, especially inside the house.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist in a Dining Area

This dining area is so classy and different because of the combination of colors and furniture. The board and batten are painted in Sherwin Williams Storm Cloud, while the walls are done in Balboa Mist.

Best Trim Color for Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist Walls

From the photo above, you already know that specific shades of blue can work as trim colors if the walls are Balboa Mist. But you can also try white if you want a sharp contrast.

Best Ceiling Color for Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist Walls

I would go with white because it is a versatile color that goes well with anything. Besides, it throws the wall color in sharp contrast if you use it well. Try BM Chantilly Lace for a good effect.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist on Exterior Bricks

Does this paint color look good on brick? Balboa Mist is one of the best exterior paint colors if you want to create a bright and warm look. It also works well on brick, as you see in the next photo.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist in a Bathroom

This paint color brings warmth and coziness into a bathroom. It also throws back a good amount of light in the room to reduce any gloominess.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist with Various Colors

Some colors tend to pick up hues from vibrant shades, especially if they are light. Does Balboa Mist pick up these hues? You can decide by looking at the next photo.

Conclusion

Benjamin Moore’s Balboa Mist is a pale gray paint color with an LRV of 65.53 and a pink-purple undertone. It throws a fair amount of light in a room, which means it works well where there isn’t a lot of light. Also, it doesn’t look washed out or stark with a lot of light.

You can use it in a living room, bedroom, bathroom, nursery, or kitchen. Balboa Mist also looks great on the exterior of its warm tone. And since it’s neutral, you can use it with other neutrals, vibrant colors, or soft pastels.

Have fun painting and share your thoughts and results with me in the comments section.