Buttermilk vs RAL 140-3
Where Buttermilk belongs to Dulux's range, RAL 140-3 is a RAL Effect color. These are both beiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige to land. RAL 140-3 (LRV 80) reflects noticeably more light than Buttermilk (LRV 77), a difference of 3 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 4.5 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Buttermilk vs RAL 140-3 in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Buttermilk and RAL 140-3 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
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.
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. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
Color Details
Buttermilk vs RAL 140-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Buttermilk on one side and RAL 140-3 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 Buttermilk comparisons
See how Buttermilk stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
