Paper White vs RAL 490-4
Where Paper White belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, RAL 490-4 is a RAL Effect color. Paper White reads as green-grey, while RAL 490-4 reads as pink-red — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Paper White (LRV 74) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 490-4 (LRV 28), a difference of 46 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 43.8, 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 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Paper White vs RAL 490-4 in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Paper White and RAL 490-4 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
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 LRV gap is large enough that Paper White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than RAL 490-4 would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Paper White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 490-4.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Paper White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 490-4.
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. Paper White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 490-4.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Paper White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 490-4.
Color Details
Paper White vs RAL 490-4 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Paper White on one side and RAL 490-4 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 Paper White comparisons
See how Paper White stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
