Light Charcoal vs RAL 820-1
Light Charcoal (Dulux) and RAL 820-1 (RAL Effect) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Light Charcoal belongs to the grey family and RAL 820-1 to the blue-grey family. The 5-point LRV gap — 62 for Light Charcoal vs 57 for RAL 820-1 — means Light Charcoal will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 2.3 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Light Charcoal vs RAL 820-1 in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Light Charcoal and RAL 820-1 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. Light Charcoal reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Light Charcoal has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Light Charcoal vs RAL 820-1 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Light Charcoal on one side and RAL 820-1 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 Light Charcoal comparisons
See how Light Charcoal stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
