Balboa Mist (OC-27) and Pale Oak (OC-20) are so close that many people can't tell them apart. Here is the small difference that decides between them.
Side-by-side numbers
| Balboa Mist | Pale Oak | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Benjamin Moore | Benjamin Moore |
| Code | OC-27 | OC-20 |
| Hex | #DAD6CC | #DDD9CE |
| RGB | 218, 214, 204 | 221, 217, 206 |
| LRV | 65.5 | 68.6 (lighter) |
| Yellow–blue (b*) | +5.4 | +5.9 (warmer) |
| Green–red (a*) | −0.4 | −0.5 |
| Difference (ΔE) | 0.8 |
Hex, RGB and LRV from the manufacturers' color records. CIELAB values and ΔE (CIEDE2000) calculated from those hex values.
With a ΔE of 0.8, they are near twins. Pale Oak is a little lighter (LRV 68.64 vs 65.53).
Undertones: Balboa Mist vs Pale Oak
Their undertones are almost identical: Pale Oak is a shade warmer (yellow–blue +5.9 vs +5.4), and both are neutral on green–red. Balboa Mist reads as a slightly deeper, mistier gray.
How they compare in each light
They move together in every light; Balboa Mist looks marginally grayer in north light.
Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test samples in your own light.
Which one fits your room?
Choose Balboa Mist if…
- You want a touch more gray depth
- The room is bright
- You prefer a misty, quiet neutral
Choose Pale Oak if…
- You want the lighter of the two
- The room is dim or north-facing
- You want a hint more warmth
Room by room: where Balboa Mist and Pale Oak each work
Living rooms
Balboa Mist and Pale Oak are very close (a difference of 0.8). Pale Oak is slightly lighter (LRV 68.64 against 65.53), which helps in a living room with limited daylight. Balboa Mist reads as a touch grayer.
Bedrooms
Either makes a calm, soft greige bedroom. In a north-facing bedroom Balboa Mist can look a little grayer, and Pale Oak a little warmer.
Kitchens and cabinets
Both work as wall colors with white cabinets. On cabinets themselves, Pale Oak is the lighter option and reads more as an off-white.
Bathrooms
Pale Oak is the marginally better pick for a windowless bathroom because it reflects more light.
Exteriors
Outdoors both read as very light greige; the difference between them will mostly disappear in full sun.
Trim and colors to pair with each
Benjamin Moore lists Cloud Cover (OC-25) and Rock Gray (1615) among the coordinating colors for Balboa Mist, and Chantilly Lace (OC-65) and Gray Cardigan (1600) for Pale Oak. Both take a clean white trim well.
Coordinating colors listed by the manufacturers:
- Balboa Mist: Cloud Cover (OC-25), LRV 80.3; Rock Gray (1615), LRV 23.8; Flint (AF-560), LRV 12.0; Barista (AF-175), LRV 8.1
- Pale Oak: Chantilly Lace (OC-65), LRV 90.0; Gray Cardigan (1600), LRV 34.7; Dinner Party (AF-300), LRV 8.4; Wrought Iron (2124-10), LRV 8.2
Can you use Balboa Mist and Pale Oak in the same house?
Yes, easily. At a difference of 0.8 they behave as one color, so you can switch between them across rooms without any visible clash.
If neither is quite right
If both feel too gray or too light, the table shows the nearest color in each direction.
| Direction | Color | Brand | LRV | ΔE to Balboa Mist | ΔE to Pale Oak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lighter | Oyster White (SW 7637) | Sherwin-Williams | 72.5 | 2.0 | 1.3 |
| Darker | Gossamer Veil (SW 9165) | Sherwin-Williams | 61.8 | 1.9 | 2.6 |
| Warmer | Natural Cream (OC-14) | Benjamin Moore | 64.8 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
| Cooler | Crushed Ice (SW 7647) | Sherwin-Williams | 65.5 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
Read the full reviews
Balboa Mist review · Pale Oak review
Balboa Mist vs Pale Oak FAQs
Is Balboa Mist darker than Pale Oak?
Slightly: LRV 65.53 against 68.64.
Can you tell Balboa Mist and Pale Oak apart?
Only just. Their ΔE is 0.8, so most people need them side by side.
Which is grayer?
Balboa Mist, by a small margin: it is a little deeper and has slightly less yellow.
What trim works with both?
A clean white such as Chantilly Lace (OC-65), which Benjamin Moore lists as a coordinating color for Pale Oak.