RAL 120-M vs Gauntlet Gray
Where RAL 120-M belongs to RAL Effect's range, Gauntlet Gray is a Sherwin-Williams color. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. RAL 120-M (LRV 27) reflects noticeably more light than Gauntlet Gray (LRV 17), a difference of 9 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 10.0 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 120-M vs Gauntlet Gray in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. RAL 120-M and Gauntlet Gray 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 LRV gap is large enough that RAL 120-M will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Gauntlet Gray 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-M reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Gauntlet Gray.
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-M reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Gauntlet Gray.
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-M reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Gauntlet Gray.
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-M reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Gauntlet Gray.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. RAL 120-M reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Gauntlet Gray.
Color Details
RAL 120-M vs Gauntlet Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 120-M on one side and Gauntlet Gray 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-M comparisons
See how RAL 120-M stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
