What color is Balboa Mist?
Balboa Mist (OC-27) is a soft, light greige from Benjamin Moore's Off-White Collection: a gentle gray with a little warmth, light enough to keep rooms airy. It is one of the quietest neutrals Benjamin Moore makes, which is why it works so well as a backdrop.
Balboa Mist undertones
Balboa Mist measures +5.4 on the yellow–blue axis, a mild warmth similar to Pale Oak (+5.9), and −0.4 on the green–red axis, effectively neutral. So it has no pink, purple or green cast of its own; it reads as a calm, slightly warm gray.
Balboa Mist LRV and light
Balboa Mist has an LRV of 65.53, a little deeper than Pale Oak (68.64). On walls that small difference gives it slightly more gray depth.
Soft cool gray
Warm, light greige
Warm morning greige, grayer later
Gray by day, gently warm at sunset
Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test a sample in your own light.
Best uses for Balboa Mist
Walls throughout the house. Its quiet, balanced tone flows easily from room to room and works with both warm woods and cooler stone or metal.
Cabinets. On kitchen or bathroom cabinets Balboa Mist gives a soft, light greige that looks calm beside white counters and suits both brass and nickel hardware.
Bedrooms. Its mistiness is restful, and the warmth keeps it from feeling cold under lamps.
When to avoid Balboa Mist
Balboa Mist can look flat and gray in very dim rooms, and it is not the color for anyone who wants walls to read clearly warm or clearly white. If you want more warmth, Natural Cream (OC-14) is a step in that direction; for something lighter, Pale Oak.
Balboa Mist hex code, RGB and LRV
Benjamin Moore lists Balboa Mist (OC-27) as hex #DAD6CC, RGB 218, 214, 204 and LRV 65.53.
Colors that go with Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore's coordinating colors for Balboa Mist are a soft white and three deep, moody accents:
Cloud Cover makes a soft trim and ceiling white. Rock Gray and Flint are deep grays for doors, islands or exterior shutters, and Barista, a deep brown, adds warmth. For crisper trim, a brighter white such as Chantilly Lace sharpens the look.
Colors similar to Balboa Mist
Pale Oak is Balboa Mist's closest Benjamin Moore neighbor (ΔE 0.8). In Sherwin-Williams, Winter Walk is almost identical (ΔE 0.6), and Drift of Mist is a close, slightly lighter alternative.
| Color | Brand | LRV | Difference (ΔE) | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Oak OC-20 | Benjamin Moore | 68.6 | 0.8 | Comparison |
| Fog Mist OC-31 | Benjamin Moore | 70.2 | 2.0 | — |
| Natural Cream OC-14 | Benjamin Moore | 64.8 | 2.1 | Review |
| Winter Walk SW 9628 | Sherwin-Williams | 66.4 | 0.6 | — |
| Limewash SW 9589 | Sherwin-Williams | 66.9 | 1.0 | — |
| Drift of Mist SW 9166 | Sherwin-Williams | 69.1 | 1.1 | Review |
ΔE is the CIEDE2000 color difference between the two manufacturer colors: around 1 is barely visible; 2–3 is visible when the chips sit side by side.
For the side-by-side with its near twin, see Balboa Mist vs Pale Oak.
Balboa Mist FAQs
What color is Balboa Mist?
Balboa Mist (OC-27) is a soft, light greige from Benjamin Moore's Off-White Collection, with an LRV of 65.53.
What are the undertones of Balboa Mist?
Mildly warm (yellow–blue +5.4) and essentially neutral on the green–red axis (−0.4), so no pink, purple or green cast.
What is the LRV of Balboa Mist?
65.53, according to Benjamin Moore.
What is the hex code for Balboa Mist?
#DAD6CC, which is RGB 218, 214, 204.
Is Balboa Mist good for cabinets?
Yes. It gives a soft, light greige on cabinets that suits white counters and both brass and nickel hardware.
Is Balboa Mist darker than Pale Oak?
Slightly. Balboa Mist has an LRV of 65.53 against Pale Oak's 68.64; the two are very close (ΔE 0.8).
What is the Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Balboa Mist?
The closest Sherwin-Williams color we measured is Winter Walk (ΔE 0.6).