RAL 170-2 vs Snowbound
Where RAL 170-2 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Snowbound is a Sherwin-Williams color. Hue-wise, RAL 170-2 belongs to the blue family and Snowbound to the beige-greige family. Snowbound (LRV 83) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 170-2 (LRV 42), a difference of 41 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 25.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 170-2 vs Snowbound in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 170-2 and Snowbound in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Snowbound reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 170-2.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Snowbound reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 170-2.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Snowbound reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 170-2.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Snowbound reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 170-2.
Color Details
RAL 170-2 vs Snowbound Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 170-2 on one side and Snowbound 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 170-2 comparisons
See how RAL 170-2 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 42, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 42), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 170-2 reads slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 170-2 encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 42, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 27, RAL 170-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 43 and 42, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 55 vs 42, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 44 vs 42), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 170-2 encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 42, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 42, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 12, RAL 170-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 8, RAL 170-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 42, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 12, RAL 170-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (45 vs 42) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
RAL 170-2 reads slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 170-2 reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.