Balboa vs Stream
Balboa (Behr) and Stream (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 58 vs 57 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Balboa leans blue, Stream reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.7 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Balboa vs Stream Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa on one side and Stream on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Balboa comparisons
See how Balboa stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 58, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Balboa reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
With LRVs of 60 and 58, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 58 vs 58), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 58 vs 27, Balboa is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (58 vs 55) makes Balboa the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 58 vs 44, Balboa is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 58), opening up a space where Balboa encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (66 vs 58) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 58, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 12, Balboa is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 8, Balboa is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (68 vs 58) makes Skimming Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 58 vs 12, Balboa is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 45, Balboa is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.