Steel Curtain vs RAL 340-M

Steel CurtainPPGvsRAL 340-MRAL EffectΔE 42.6Very different colors

Where Steel Curtain belongs to PPG's range, RAL 340-M is a RAL Effect color. Steel Curtain reads as grey, while RAL 340-M reads as pink — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Steel Curtain (LRV 34) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 340-M (LRV 6), a difference of 28 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 42.6, 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.

Steel Curtain vs RAL 340-M in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Steel Curtain and RAL 340-M 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 Steel Curtain will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than RAL 340-M would.

Steel CurtainA cozy living room painted in Steel Curtain

@simplywalldecor

RAL 340-MRAL Effect 340-M living room interior

@visualization

Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Steel Curtain reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 340-M.

Steel CurtainA moody bedroom painted in Steel Curtain

@simplywalldecor

RAL 340-MRAL Effect 340-M bedroom

@visualization

Kitchen

In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Steel Curtain reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 340-M.

Steel CurtainSteel Curtain — classy kitchen cabinets

@simplywalldecor

RAL 340-MRAL Effect 340-M kitchen painted backsplash

@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. Steel Curtain reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 340-M.

Steel CurtainSteel Curtain — modern luxury bathroom

@simplywalldecor

RAL 340-MRAL Effect 340-M 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. Steel Curtain reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 340-M.

Steel CurtainSteel Curtain color — eclectic house inspiration

@simplywalldecor

RAL 340-MRAL Effect 340-M victorian house interior

@visualization

Color Details

Steel Curtain
PPG · PPG0994-5
Hex#9b9f9a
LRV34.0
BrandPPG
NumberPPG0994-5
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium
RAL 340-M
RAL Effect · RAL 340-M
Hex#53353B
LRV5.6
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 340-M
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Steel Curtain vs RAL 340-M Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steel Curtain on one side and RAL 340-M 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 Steel Curtain comparisons

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

White Dove
Steel Curtain
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Steel Curtain
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Steel Curtain
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Steel Curtain is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Steel Curtain
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Steel Curtain
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Steel Curtain reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Steel Curtain
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Steel Curtain
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Accessible Beige
Steel Curtain
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Steel Curtain
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Steel Curtain reads slightly lighter

French Gray
Steel Curtain
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

French Gray reads slightly lighter

Naval
Steel Curtain
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Steel Curtain is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Steel Curtain
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Bancha
Steel Curtain
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Steel Curtain reads noticeably lighter

Hardwick White
Steel Curtain
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Hardwick White reads slightly lighter

Pure White
Steel Curtain
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
Steel Curtain
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Steel Curtain reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Steel Curtain
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Shoji White
Steel Curtain
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Shoji White
LRV 74

Shoji White is the lighter choice

Snowbound
Steel Curtain
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
Steel Curtain
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

Steel Curtain reads noticeably lighter

Skimming Stone
Steel Curtain
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone is the lighter choice

Dix Blue
Steel Curtain
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Dix Blue reads slightly lighter

Calamine
Steel Curtain
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine is the lighter choice

Treron
Steel Curtain
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Steel Curtain reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Steel Curtain
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Steel Curtain reads noticeably lighter

Saybrook Sage
Steel Curtain
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Steel Curtain
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Nearly identical in tone

Pine Needle
Steel Curtain
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Steel Curtain is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Steel Curtain
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Steel Curtain reads slightly lighter

Guilford Green
Steel Curtain
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Guilford Green reads noticeably lighter