RAL 120-1 vs Iron Ore
Where RAL 120-1 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Iron Ore is a Sherwin-Williams color. RAL 120-1 reads as greige-white, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. RAL 120-1 (LRV 84) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 79 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 65.3, 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 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 120-1 vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 120-1 and Iron Ore 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 RAL 120-1 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore 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. RAL 120-1 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. RAL 120-1 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
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. RAL 120-1 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
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. RAL 120-1 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. RAL 120-1 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Color Details
RAL 120-1 vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 120-1 on one side and Iron Ore 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 RAL 120-1 comparisons
See how RAL 120-1 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 84 vs 83), so neither reads brighter in a room.
RAL 120-1 reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
RAL 120-1 reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
RAL 120-1 reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 58, RAL 120-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 84 vs 27, RAL 120-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 120-1 reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 55, RAL 120-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 84 vs 44, RAL 120-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 84 and 84, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 66, RAL 120-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (84 vs 74) makes RAL 120-1 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 84 vs 12, RAL 120-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 84 vs 68, RAL 120-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 84 vs 12, RAL 120-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 84 vs 45, RAL 120-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 120-1 reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
RAL 120-1 reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
RAL 120-1 reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
RAL 120-1 reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 57), opening up a space where Guilford Green encloses it.
RAL 120-1 reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 72), opening up a space where Just Walnut encloses it.