Behr Balsam MQ4-15
| Code: | MQ4-15 |
| Name: | Balsam |
| Brand: | Behr |
What color is Behr Balsam?
The rich and calming Balsam green (Behr MQ4-15) adds a touch of nature to any room, evoking a sense of tranquility and freshness. This versatile hue pairs beautifully with soft neutrals like cream and beige, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere. For a more dynamic look, consider combining Balsam with deeper shades of blue or earthy browns. Whether used as an accent or as the main color in a space, Balsam brings a sophisticated and organic feel to any interior.
Behr Balsam reviews (23 photos)
View the photos of real spaces painted with this green that were not included in specific categories.Close-ups, painted furniture, storages and dressers, hallways, stairs and ceilings.























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What are Behr Balsam undertones?
Balsam has a clear green undertone based on its position in the color space. We identify undertones by isolating the pure hue (separating it from lightness and saturation), which avoids distortions caused by tints, tones, and shades.
This method is generally more reliable than judging undertones on a white background.
HEX value:
#008F66
RGB code:
0, 143, 102
Is Behr Balsam MQ4-15 cool or warm?
At 163° on the HSL hue wheel, this dark green falls clearly in the cool range.
MQ4-15 Balsam HSL code: 163, 100%, 28%
Hue - degree on a color wheel from 0 to 360. 0 is red, 120 is green, and 240 is blue.
Saturation is expressed as a percentage. At 0%, it appears as a shade of grey, and at 100%, it is in full color.
Lightness is also a percentage value. 0% is black, and 100% is white.
How light temperature affects Balsam
Natural Lighting. During the day, natural light shifts from about 2000 K at sunrise/sunset to 5500–6500 K at noon.
In addition, natural‑light temperature depends on its direction:
| Direction of sunlight | Visible temp. | Hue | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Cool | Bluish | All day |
| East | Warm | Yellow | Before noon |
| West | Warm | Orange‑red | After noon |
| South | Warm | Orange‑yellow | All day |
Artificial Lighting. When choosing bulbs, pay attention to their color‑temperature (Kelvins).
Use the slider to see how this dark green shade looks under different lighting:


4000K
Coordinating colors.
Colors that go with Behr Balsam:
Monochromatic color scheme
This scheme consists of various shades, tints, and tones of a single color. While it offers a perfect combination of hues, without accent décor it may become monotonous.
Darker shades
MQ4-15
Balsam
Complementary color scheme
This color scheme is a combination of two shades that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The high contrast between these colors creates a vibrant and dynamic visual effect. For the color Balsam with a green hue, complementary colors are those with a red hue close to 343, such as Behr All Dressed Up and Hot Gossip.
LRV of Balsam
Balsam has an LRV of 11.76% and refers to Medium Dark which means that this color reflects very little light. Why LRV is important?
Light Reflectance Value measures the amount of visible and usable light that reflects from a painted surface.
Simply put, the higher the LRV of a paint color, the brighter the room you will get.
The scale goes from 0% (absolute black, absorbing all light) to 100% (pure white, reflecting all light).
Act like a pro: When choosing paint with an LRV of 11.76%, pay attention to your bulbs' brightness. Light brightness is measured in lumens. The lower the paint's LRV, the higher lumen level you need. Every square foot of room needs at least 40 lumens. That means for a 200 ft2 living room you’ll need about 8000 lumens of light – e.g., eight 1000 lm bulbs.
Color codes
We have collected almost every possible color code you could ever need. To copy the code, just click the icon to the right of it.
| Format | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #008f66 | |
| RGB Decimal | 0, 143, 102 | |
| RGB Percent | 0.00%, 56.08%, 40.00% | |
| HSV | Hue: 163° Saturation: 100.0% Value: 56.08% | |
| HSL | hsl(163, 100, 28) | |
| CMYK | Cyan: 100.0 Magenta: 0.0 Yellow: 28.67 Key: 43.92 | |
| YIQ | Y: 95.569 I: -72.039 Q: -43.009 | |
| XYZ | X: 12.219 Y: 20.603 Z: 15.899 | |
| CIE Lab | L:52.512 a:-42.959 b:12.806 | |
| CIE Luv | L:52.512 u:-44.624 v:23.364 | |
| Decimal | 36710 | |
| Hunter Lab | 45.39, -31.38, 11.005 |
Color equivalents
594
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Floradale Isle
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