Purbeck Stone vs RAL 870-3
Purbeck Stone (Farrow & Ball) and RAL 870-3 (RAL Effect) come from different manufacturers. Purbeck Stone reads as greige-grey, while RAL 870-3 reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 40-point LRV gap — 52 for Purbeck Stone vs 12 for RAL 870-3 — means Purbeck Stone will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 36.5 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.
Purbeck Stone vs RAL 870-3 in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Purbeck Stone and RAL 870-3 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
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. Purbeck Stone reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 870-3.
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. Purbeck Stone returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Purbeck Stone returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Purbeck Stone returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Purbeck Stone vs RAL 870-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Purbeck Stone on one side and RAL 870-3 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 Purbeck Stone comparisons
See how Purbeck Stone stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
