RAL 860-4 vs RAL 870-2
Both from RAL Effect's palette. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. RAL 860-4 (LRV 33) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 870-2 (LRV 30), a difference of 3 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. At ΔE 2.9, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 860-4 vs RAL 870-2 in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. RAL 860-4 and RAL 870-2 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.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
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. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
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. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
Color Details
RAL 860-4 vs RAL 870-2 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 860-4 on one side and RAL 870-2 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 860-4 comparisons
See how RAL 860-4 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 33, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 860-4 encloses it.
With LRVs of 33 and 30, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 860-4 encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 33, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (33 vs 27) makes RAL 860-4 the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 33), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 33, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (44 vs 33) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 860-4 encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 33, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 33, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 33 vs 12, RAL 860-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 33 vs 8, RAL 860-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 33, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 33 vs 12, RAL 860-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 33, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 33 and 31, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.