Fossil vs RAL 840-3
Fossil (Cloverdale Paint) and RAL 840-3 (RAL Effect) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the greige-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 4-point LRV gap — 50 for Fossil vs 46 for RAL 840-3 — means Fossil will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 3.0 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Fossil vs RAL 840-3 in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Fossil and RAL 840-3 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
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. Fossil reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Fossil has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Fossil has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Fossil vs RAL 840-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Fossil on one side and RAL 840-3 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 Fossil comparisons
See how Fossil stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
