Ghost Writer vs RAL 840-3

Ghost WriterPPGvsRAL 840-3RAL EffectΔE 1.7Subtle difference

Where Ghost Writer belongs to PPG's range, RAL 840-3 is a RAL Effect color. These are both greige-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within greige-grey to land. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (48 vs 46), so they'll read as similarly Medium in most lighting conditions. At ΔE 1.7, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Ghost Writer vs RAL 840-3 in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Ghost Writer and RAL 840-3 are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

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 two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.

Ghost WriterA hollywood regency living room painted in Ghost Writer

@simplywalldecor

RAL 840-3RAL Effect 840-3 living room

@visualization

Kitchen

In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.

Ghost WriterGhost Writer — classy kitchen cabinets

@simplywalldecor

RAL 840-3RAL Effect 840-3 kitchen interior

@visualization

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. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.

Ghost WriterGhost Writer — modern luxury bathroom

@simplywalldecor

RAL 840-3RAL Effect 840-3 bathroom

@visualization

House

Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.

Ghost WriterGhost Writer color — aesthetic house inspiration

@simplywalldecor

RAL 840-3RAL Effect 840-3 victorian house interior

@visualization

Color Details

Ghost Writer
PPG · PPG1007-3
Hex#bcb7ad
LRV48.0
BrandPPG
NumberPPG1007-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium
RAL 840-3
RAL Effect · RAL 840-3
Hex#B8B4A8
LRV45.6
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 840-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium

Ghost Writer vs RAL 840-3 Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ghost Writer on one side and RAL 840-3 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 Ghost Writer comparisons

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

White Dove
Ghost Writer
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Ghost Writer
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Ghost Writer
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Ghost Writer is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Ghost Writer
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
Ghost Writer
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Ghost Writer reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Ghost Writer
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Ghost Writer
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Accessible Beige
Ghost Writer
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Ghost Writer
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Ghost Writer reads noticeably lighter

French Gray
Ghost Writer
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

Ghost Writer reads slightly lighter

Naval
Ghost Writer
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Ghost Writer is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Ghost Writer
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Bancha
Ghost Writer
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Ghost Writer is the lighter choice

Hardwick White
Ghost Writer
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Ghost Writer reads slightly lighter

Pure White
Ghost Writer
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
Ghost Writer
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Ghost Writer is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Ghost Writer
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Shoji White
Ghost Writer
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Shoji White
LRV 74

Shoji White is the lighter choice

Snowbound
Ghost Writer
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
Ghost Writer
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

Ghost Writer is the lighter choice

Skimming Stone
Ghost Writer
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone reads noticeably lighter

Dix Blue
Ghost Writer
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Ghost Writer reads slightly lighter

Calamine
Ghost Writer
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine reads noticeably lighter

Treron
Ghost Writer
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Ghost Writer reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Ghost Writer
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Ghost Writer is the lighter choice

Saybrook Sage
Ghost Writer
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Nearly identical in tone

Pale Green
Ghost Writer
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Ghost Writer reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Ghost Writer
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Ghost Writer is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Ghost Writer
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Ghost Writer reads noticeably lighter

Guilford Green
Ghost Writer
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Guilford Green reads slightly lighter