French Gray vs RAL 830-4
Where French Gray belongs to Farrow & Ball's range, RAL 830-4 is a RAL Effect color. French Gray reads as beige-greige, while RAL 830-4 reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. French Gray (LRV 43) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 830-4 (LRV 16), a difference of 27 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 27.5, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
French Gray vs RAL 830-4 in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing French Gray and RAL 830-4 in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. French Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 830-4.
Color Details
French Gray vs RAL 830-4 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see French Gray on one side and RAL 830-4 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 French Gray comparisons
See how French Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
