Pale Nutmeg vs RAL 120-M

Pale NutmegDuluxvsRAL 120-MRAL EffectΔE 29.5Very different colors

Pale Nutmeg (Dulux) and RAL 120-M (RAL Effect) come from different manufacturers. Pale Nutmeg reads as beige-greige, while RAL 120-M reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 47-point LRV gap — 74 for Pale Nutmeg vs 27 for RAL 120-M — means Pale Nutmeg will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 29.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Pale Nutmeg vs RAL 120-M in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Pale Nutmeg and RAL 120-M 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

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. Pale Nutmeg reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 120-M.

Pale NutmegDulux Nutmeg White scandinavian living room color

@_homebymia

RAL 120-MRAL Effect 120-M living room interior

@visualization

Bedroom

Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Pale Nutmeg returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Pale NutmegNutmeg White bedroom interior

@bekshouse

RAL 120-MRAL Effect 120-M bedroom

@visualization

Kitchen

Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Pale Nutmeg returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Pale NutmegDulux Nutmeg White kitchen interior

@marlow_house_redrow

RAL 120-MRAL Effect 120-M kitchen painted backsplash

@visualization

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. Pale Nutmeg returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Pale NutmegDulux Nutmeg White bathroom picture

@chlo.at.home

RAL 120-MRAL Effect 120-M bathroom

@visualization

Color Details

Pale Nutmeg
Dulux · 10YY 73/042
Hex#E3DCD4
LRV74.0
BrandDulux
Number10YY 73/042
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight
RAL 120-M
RAL Effect · RAL 120-M
Hex#8F8D87
LRV26.8
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 120-M
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium

Pale Nutmeg vs RAL 120-M Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pale Nutmeg on one side and RAL 120-M on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Pale Nutmeg comparisons

See how Pale Nutmeg stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Pale Nutmeg
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove reads slightly lighter

Ammonite
Pale Nutmeg
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Pale Nutmeg reads slightly lighter

Iron Ore
Pale Nutmeg
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Pale Nutmeg
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Pale Nutmeg reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Pale Nutmeg
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Pale Nutmeg
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Pale Nutmeg reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Pale Nutmeg
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Pale Nutmeg reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Pale Nutmeg
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Pale Nutmeg
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Pale Nutmeg reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Pale Nutmeg
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Pale Nutmeg reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Pale Nutmeg
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Pale Nutmeg
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Pale Nutmeg
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Pale Nutmeg
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Black grey
Pale Nutmeg
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Piazza
Pale Nutmeg
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Pale Nutmeg reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Pale Nutmeg
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Pale Nutmeg reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Pale Nutmeg
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Senses
Pale Nutmeg
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Pale Nutmeg
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Pale Nutmeg
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Pale Nutmeg reads noticeably lighter

Tea with Florence
Pale Nutmeg
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Pale Nutmeg
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Pale Nutmeg
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Pale Nutmeg
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Pale Nutmeg
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Pale Nutmeg
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

Nearly identical in tone

RAL 110-1
Pale Nutmeg
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 reads slightly lighter

Paper
Pale Nutmeg
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper reads noticeably lighter

Passageway
Pale Nutmeg
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Pale Nutmeg is the lighter choice