Simmering Smoke vs RAL 850-3
Simmering Smoke is a PPG color while RAL 850-3 comes from RAL Effect. Simmering Smoke reads as greige-grey, while RAL 850-3 reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. With LRVs of 36 and 38, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. At ΔE 4.7, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Simmering Smoke vs RAL 850-3 in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Simmering Smoke and RAL 850-3 are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Color Details
Simmering Smoke vs RAL 850-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Simmering Smoke on one side and RAL 850-3 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 Simmering Smoke comparisons
See how Simmering Smoke stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 36), opening up a space where Simmering Smoke encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 36, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 36 vs 6, Simmering Smoke is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 36), opening up a space where Simmering Smoke encloses it.
Simmering Smoke reads slightly lighter (LRV 36 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 36, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 36), opening up a space where Simmering Smoke encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 36, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (36 vs 27) makes Simmering Smoke the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 36), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Simmering Smoke reflects far more light (LRV 36 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 36, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 36 vs 13, Simmering Smoke is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (44 vs 36) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 36), opening up a space where Simmering Smoke encloses it.
Simmering Smoke reflects far more light (LRV 36 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 36, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 36, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 36, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 36), opening up a space where Simmering Smoke encloses it.
At LRV 36 vs 12, Simmering Smoke is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 36 vs 8, Simmering Smoke is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 36, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 41 vs 36), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 36 vs 12, Simmering Smoke is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (45 vs 36) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
Simmering Smoke reads slightly lighter (LRV 36 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.