Earl Blue vs RAL 180-3
Earl Blue is a Dulux color while RAL 180-3 comes from RAL Effect. Earl Blue reads as blue-grey, while RAL 180-3 reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 68 vs 41, RAL 180-3 will read as the brighter of the two — a 27-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 18.9, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Earl Blue vs RAL 180-3 in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Earl Blue and RAL 180-3 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. RAL 180-3 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 180-3 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Earl Blue would.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 180-3 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Earl Blue would.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 180-3 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Earl Blue would.
Color Details
Earl Blue vs RAL 180-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Earl Blue on one side and RAL 180-3 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 Earl Blue comparisons
See how Earl Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
