RAL 120-3 vs Paper

RAL 120-3RAL EffectvsPaperTikkurilaΔE 2.6Subtle difference

Where RAL 120-3 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Paper is a Tikkurila color. Both sit in the beige-greige family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Paper (LRV 88) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 120-3 (LRV 85), a difference of 3 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. At ΔE 2.6, 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.

RAL 120-3 vs Paper in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. RAL 120-3 and Paper 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 brightness difference is modest but present — Paper gives the walls a little more lift.

RAL 120-3RAL Effect 120-3 living room walls

@visualization

PaperTikkurila Paper F497 living room day mood

@harmaamaja

Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Paper reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

RAL 120-3RAL Effect 120-3 bedroom

@visualization

PaperTikkurila Paper F497 bedroom

@harmaamaja

Kitchen

In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Paper reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

RAL 120-3RAL Effect 120-3 kitchen review

@visualization

PaperTikkurila Paper F497 kitchen

@kotikodesign

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. Paper reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

RAL 120-3RAL Effect 120-3 victorian house interior

@visualization

PaperTikkurila Paper F497 house garage interior

@harmaamaja

Color Details

RAL 120-3
RAL Effect · RAL 120-3
Hex#F0EEE5
LRV85.2
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 120-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessLight
Paper
Tikkurila · F497
Hex#F2F2ED
LRV88.4
BrandTikkurila
NumberF497
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessLight

RAL 120-3 vs Paper Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 120-3 on one side and Paper 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 RAL 120-3 comparisons

See how RAL 120-3 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
RAL 120-3
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

Nearly identical in tone

Ammonite
RAL 120-3
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

RAL 120-3 reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
RAL 120-3
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
RAL 120-3
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
RAL 120-3
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Mizzle
RAL 120-3
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
RAL 120-3
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

RAL 120-3 reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
RAL 120-3
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
RAL 120-3
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
RAL 120-3
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

RAL 120-3 reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
RAL 120-3
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Pale Green
RAL 120-3
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
RAL 120-3
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Cement grey
RAL 120-3
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Black grey
RAL 120-3
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Piazza
RAL 120-3
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

RAL 120-3 reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
RAL 120-3
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
RAL 120-3
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Senses
RAL 120-3
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
RAL 120-3
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
RAL 120-3
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
RAL 120-3
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
RAL 120-3
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
RAL 120-3
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
RAL 120-3
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
RAL 120-3
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
RAL 120-3
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 120-3 reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-1
RAL 120-3
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 120-3 reads slightly lighter

Passageway
RAL 120-3
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice

RAL 180-1
RAL 120-3
RAL 180-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 180-1
LRV 49

RAL 120-3 is the lighter choice