Calico Blue vs RAL 840-5
Where Calico Blue belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, RAL 840-5 is a RAL Effect color. Calico Blue reads as blue-green, while RAL 840-5 reads as green-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (9 vs 11), so they'll read as similarly Dark in most lighting conditions. The ΔE 5.7 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Calico Blue vs RAL 840-5 in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Calico Blue and RAL 840-5 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. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
Color Details
Calico Blue vs RAL 840-5 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Calico Blue on one side and RAL 840-5 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 Calico Blue comparisons
See how Calico Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
