RAL 820-1 vs Pure White
RAL 820-1 (RAL Effect) and Pure White (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 820-1 reads as blue-grey, while Pure White reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 27-point LRV gap — 84 for Pure White vs 57 for RAL 820-1 — means Pure White will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 13.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 820-1 vs Pure White in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 820-1 and Pure White in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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. Pure White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 820-1.
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. Pure White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Pure White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Pure White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Pure White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
RAL 820-1 vs Pure White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 820-1 on one side and Pure White 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 820-1 comparisons
See how RAL 820-1 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 57), opening up a space where RAL 820-1 encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (57 vs 52) makes RAL 820-1 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 30, RAL 820-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (60 vs 57) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 58 and 57, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
RAL 820-1 reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 57 vs 43, RAL 820-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 57 and 55, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
RAL 820-1 reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 57), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 57), opening up a space where RAL 820-1 encloses it.
RAL 820-1 reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
RAL 820-1 reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 57), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 820-1 reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
RAL 820-1 reads slightly lighter (LRV 57 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 57 vs 31, RAL 820-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 7, RAL 820-1 is decisively the brighter choice.