RAL 140-5 vs Pure White
RAL 140-5 (RAL Effect) and Pure White (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 140-5 reads as beige, while Pure White reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 4-point LRV gap — 84 for Pure White vs 80 for RAL 140-5 — means Pure White will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 13.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 140-5 vs Pure White in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 140-5 and Pure White 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
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Pure White reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Pure White has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Pure White has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Pure White has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Pure White has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Pure White has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
RAL 140-5 vs Pure White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 140-5 on one side and Pure White 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 140-5 comparisons
See how RAL 140-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
A 3-point LRV gap (83 vs 80) makes White Dove the marginally brighter of the two.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 80 vs 58, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 27, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
At LRV 80 vs 55, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 44, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 66, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (80 vs 74) makes RAL 140-5 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 80 vs 12, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 8, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 12-point LRV gap (80 vs 68) makes RAL 140-5 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 80 vs 12, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 45, RAL 140-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
RAL 140-5 reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.