Playing Possum vs RAL 870-2

Playing PossumPPGvsRAL 870-2RAL EffectΔE 2.0Subtle difference

Playing Possum is a PPG color while RAL 870-2 comes from RAL Effect. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. With LRVs of 31 and 30, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. With a ΔE of 2.0, the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side to reliably tell them apart. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Playing Possum vs RAL 870-2 in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Playing Possum and RAL 870-2 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

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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.

Playing PossumA organic modern living room painted in Playing Possum

@simplywalldecor

RAL 870-2RAL Effect 870-2 living room

@visualization

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.

Playing PossumA organic modern bedroom painted in Playing Possum

@simplywalldecor

RAL 870-2RAL Effect 870-2 bedroom

@visualization

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.

Playing PossumPlaying Possum — japandi bathroom

@simplywalldecor

RAL 870-2RAL Effect 870-2 minimalist bathroom

@visualization

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.

Playing PossumPlaying Possum color — rustic modern house inspiration

@simplywalldecor

RAL 870-2RAL Effect 870-2 victorian house interior

@visualization

Color Details

Playing Possum
PPG · PPG0997-5
Hex#969795
LRV31.0
BrandPPG
NumberPPG0997-5
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium
RAL 870-2
RAL Effect · RAL 870-2
Hex#969392
LRV29.7
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 870-2
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium

Playing Possum vs RAL 870-2 Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Playing Possum on one side and RAL 870-2 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 Playing Possum comparisons

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

White Dove
Playing Possum
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Playing Possum
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Playing Possum
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Playing Possum is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Playing Possum
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Playing Possum
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Nearly identical in tone

Mizzle
Playing Possum
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Playing Possum
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Accessible Beige
Playing Possum
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Playing Possum
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Playing Possum reads slightly lighter

French Gray
Playing Possum
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

French Gray reads noticeably lighter

Naval
Playing Possum
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Playing Possum is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Playing Possum
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Bancha
Playing Possum
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Playing Possum reads noticeably lighter

Hardwick White
Playing Possum
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Hardwick White reads noticeably lighter

Pure White
Playing Possum
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
Playing Possum
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Playing Possum reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Playing Possum
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Shoji White
Playing Possum
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Shoji White
LRV 74

Shoji White is the lighter choice

Snowbound
Playing Possum
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
Playing Possum
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

Playing Possum reads noticeably lighter

Skimming Stone
Playing Possum
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone is the lighter choice

Dix Blue
Playing Possum
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Dix Blue reads slightly lighter

Calamine
Playing Possum
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine is the lighter choice

Treron
Playing Possum
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Playing Possum reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Playing Possum
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Playing Possum reads noticeably lighter

Saybrook Sage
Playing Possum
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Saybrook Sage reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
Playing Possum
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Nearly identical in tone

Pine Needle
Playing Possum
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Playing Possum reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
Playing Possum
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Playing Possum reads slightly lighter

Guilford Green
Playing Possum
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Guilford Green is the lighter choice