Essex Blue vs RAL 180-1
Where Essex Blue belongs to Behr's range, RAL 180-1 is a RAL Effect color. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Essex Blue (LRV 56) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 180-1 (LRV 49), a difference of 7 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 7.0 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Essex Blue vs RAL 180-1 in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Essex Blue and RAL 180-1 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — Essex Blue gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Essex Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Essex Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Essex Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Essex Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Essex Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Essex Blue vs RAL 180-1 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Essex Blue on one side and RAL 180-1 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 Essex Blue comparisons
See how Essex Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
