Balboa Mist vs Edgecomb Gray: Which Benjamin Moore Greige?

Balboa Mist and Edgecomb Gray are two of Benjamin Moore's most popular soft neutrals, and they're constantly compared. On a small chip they look almost identical: two light, gentle greys with a touch of warmth. On the wall, though, one leans a little grey and fresh while the other leans a little beige and cosy, and that small difference can change the whole feel of a room.

In this guide I'll compare Balboa Mist and Edgecomb Gray side by side, including their LRV, undertones and how they look in different light, which works best in each room and outside, the whites and accent colours to pair them with, and how to test them so you choose the right one first time.

The quick answer: Balboa Mist (OC-27) is slightly lighter and greyer, a pale grey with a warm cast and an LRV of 65.53. Edgecomb Gray (HC-173) is slightly darker and warmer, a soft greige that leans beige, with an LRV of 63.09. Choose Balboa Mist for a fresher, more neutral look, especially with cool stone and crisp whites. Choose Edgecomb Gray for a warmer, cosier look, especially in north-facing rooms or with warm wood and cream.

Balboa Mist vs Edgecomb Gray Side by Side

Benjamin Moore describes Balboa Mist as "a goes-with-anything shade of pale gray with a slightly warm cast," and Edgecomb Gray as "a go-to neutral that can refresh a space, while providing a warm, welcoming feeling." That sums up the difference neatly: Balboa Mist starts from grey and adds a little warmth, while Edgecomb Gray starts from warmth and stays soft. There's a full colour review of Edgecomb Gray if you'd like to go deeper on that shade.

The Difference in Undertones

The easiest way to spot the difference is in the numbers. The blue value in Edgecomb Gray's RGB is lower (196 against 204), which means it carries more yellow and beige. Balboa Mist is more balanced, so it reads as a truer, softer grey.

• Balboa Mist looks like a pale, gentle grey. In cool light or next to purple and pink tones, some people notice a faint taupe or mauve hint, but in most rooms it simply looks calm and neutral.
• Edgecomb Gray looks like a light warm greige. It can look a little more beige in strong sun or beside stark white, and occasionally takes on a hint of green in north-facing rooms or near lots of planting.

A designer's tip: hold both samples against your floor, worktop and sofa. If your home is full of warm oak, cream and brass, Edgecomb Gray usually looks more harmonious. If you have grey stone, marble, chrome or crisp white, Balboa Mist often blends more easily.

LRV: Which Is Lighter?

LRV (light reflectance value) runs from 0 for black to 100 for pure white. Balboa Mist's 65.53 is about two and a half points higher than Edgecomb Gray's 63.09, so it's a touch lighter. The difference is subtle, much smaller than the gap between Edgecomb Gray and Pale Oak, so most people notice the undertone before they notice the lightness.

Both colours sit comfortably in the light range, so either will keep a room bright while still showing as a colour against white trim.

How They Look in Different Light

Balboa Mist vs Edgecomb Gray Room by Room

Living rooms

Both are excellent living room colours. Balboa Mist feels lighter and more contemporary with linen, marble, black accents and pale wood. Edgecomb Gray feels cosier with warm wood, leather, wool and brass. In a small living room, Balboa Mist's slightly higher LRV gives you a fraction more light.

Kitchens

Balboa Mist walls look fresh with white shaker cabinets, marble and polished nickel. Edgecomb Gray suits warm oak islands, cream cabinets and brass. Both pair beautifully with soft green cabinetry, such as sage green kitchen cabinets.

Bedrooms

Both are calm and restful. Balboa Mist suits a serene, airy bedroom with white bedding and pale wood, while Edgecomb Gray suits a cosy, layered bedroom with walnut, wool and warm lamplight.

Hallways and stairs

Hallways often have little daylight, so Edgecomb Gray's warmth stops them feeling cold, while Balboa Mist keeps them light and fresh. Either makes a reliable whole-house colour that links rooms together.

Dining rooms

In a dining room used mostly in the evening, Edgecomb Gray glows under lamps and candles. Balboa Mist looks more tailored and elegant, especially with dark wood and white china.

Bathrooms and home offices

Balboa Mist's cleaner grey looks crisp with white sanitaryware, marble and brushed nickel. In a home office, either colour gives a calm backdrop; choose Balboa Mist if the room is bright and Edgecomb Gray if it feels cold.

Exteriors

Outdoors, both colours look lighter than they do inside. Edgecomb Gray reads as a warm, soft grey on siding and is a classic with white trim and a charcoal or black door. Balboa Mist can look almost like a soft off-white in bright sun, so check it on a large board outside before you commit. For trim ideas, the right window trim styles make either colour look finished.

Colors That Go With Balboa Mist and Edgecomb Gray

Benjamin Moore lists Cloud Cover, Rock Gray, Flint and Barista among its coordinating colours for Balboa Mist. Both colours also look lovely with sage green, warm wood and natural linen. If you're choosing a trim white, Simply White and White Dove are two of the most popular, and there are more ideas among the best white paint colours.

Similar Colors to Compare

Balboa Mist is often suggested as the closest Benjamin Moore match for Sherwin-Williams Drift of Mist, so if you love that soft grey, Balboa Mist is worth a sample too.

How to Test Them

• Use large samples. Paint two large boards or use peel-and-stick samples rather than relying on a small chip.
• Test on more than one wall, including the darkest wall in the room.
• Look at different times of day, morning, afternoon and evening, and under your own lamps.
• Put them next to your fixed finishes: floor, worktops, tiles, sofa and trim.
• Put them side by side. Seen together, Balboa Mist will look greyer and Edgecomb Gray will look warmer, which makes the choice much easier.

How I Choose Between Soft Neutrals

After more than 15 years of designing homes, pubs and restaurants, I've learnt that the right neutral depends far more on the room than on the colour chart.

• Start with what you can't change. Floors, worktops and stone set the undertone, so I match the paint to them, not the other way round.
• Think about the light. In cool, north-facing rooms I lean towards the warmer colour; in bright, sunny rooms I'm happy to go greyer.
• Choose one main neutral for the whole house. Using one colour for hallways and living spaces makes a home flow, and you can add depth with a darker shade in one or two rooms.
• Add contrast. A navy door, black window frames or a deep green accent stops a soft neutral from feeling flat.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Balboa Mist lighter than Edgecomb Gray?

Yes, slightly. Balboa Mist has an LRV of 65.53 and Edgecomb Gray has an LRV of 63.09, so Balboa Mist is a touch lighter, though the difference is subtle.

Is Balboa Mist warmer or cooler than Edgecomb Gray?

Balboa Mist is cooler. It's a pale grey with a slightly warm cast, while Edgecomb Gray is a warm greige that leans beige.

Is Balboa Mist a gray or a greige?

Benjamin Moore describes it as a pale gray with a slightly warm cast, so it sits on the grey side of greige.

Does Balboa Mist have purple undertones?

In most rooms it reads as a soft neutral grey. In cool light or next to pink and purple tones, some people notice a faint taupe or mauve hint, so it's worth testing in your own room.

Which is better for a north-facing room?

Edgecomb Gray, because its beige warmth balances cool north light.

Which is better for a whole-house color?

Both work well. Choose Balboa Mist for a lighter, fresher feel and Edgecomb Gray for a warmer, cosier one.

What white trim goes with Balboa Mist and Edgecomb Gray?

Chantilly Lace gives a crisp contrast and White Dove gives a softer one. Both work with either colour.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Balboa Mist if you want a lighter, fresher, more neutral grey, your room gets plenty of light, or your home has cool stone, marble and crisp whites. Choose Edgecomb Gray if you want a warmer, cosier greige, your room faces north, or your home is full of warm wood, cream and brass. Test both side by side in your own light, and the right one will soon stand out.

And if you'd like help choosing the right neutral for your home, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.