Stirabout vs RAL 590-5
Stirabout is a Farrow & Ball color while RAL 590-5 comes from RAL Effect. Hue-wise, Stirabout belongs to the beige-greige family and RAL 590-5 to the blue family. At LRV 63 vs 4, Stirabout will read as the brighter of the two — a 59-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 74.5, 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.
Stirabout vs RAL 590-5 in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Stirabout and RAL 590-5 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. Stirabout 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 Stirabout will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than RAL 590-5 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 Stirabout will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than RAL 590-5 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 Stirabout will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than RAL 590-5 would.
Color Details
Stirabout vs RAL 590-5 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Stirabout on one side and RAL 590-5 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 Stirabout comparisons
See how Stirabout stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
