Matrix vs RAL 590-5
Where Matrix belongs to Jotun's range, RAL 590-5 is a RAL Effect color. Matrix reads as grey, while RAL 590-5 reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Matrix (LRV 20) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 590-5 (LRV 4), a difference of 16 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 44.3, 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 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Matrix vs RAL 590-5 in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Matrix 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Matrix will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than RAL 590-5 would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Matrix reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 590-5.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Matrix reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 590-5.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Matrix reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 590-5.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Matrix reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 590-5.
Color Details
Matrix vs RAL 590-5 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Matrix 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 Matrix comparisons
See how Matrix stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
