RAL 140-5 vs Buff
RAL 140-5 (RAL Effect) and Buff (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both beiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige to land. The 4-point LRV gap — 80 for RAL 140-5 vs 75 for Buff — means RAL 140-5 will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 2.3 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 140-5 vs Buff in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. RAL 140-5 and Buff 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
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. RAL 140-5 reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. RAL 140-5 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. RAL 140-5 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. RAL 140-5 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. RAL 140-5 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
RAL 140-5 vs Buff Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 140-5 on one side and Buff 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 RAL 140-5 comparisons
See how RAL 140-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
A 3-point LRV gap (83 vs 80) makes White Dove the marginally brighter of the two.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 80 vs 58, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 27, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
At LRV 80 vs 55, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 44, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reads slightly lighter (LRV 84 vs 80), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 80 vs 66, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (80 vs 74) makes RAL 140-5 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 80 vs 12, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 8, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 12-point LRV gap (80 vs 68) makes RAL 140-5 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 80 vs 12, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 45, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.