RAL 180-1 vs Interesting Aqua

RAL 180-1RAL EffectvsInteresting AquaSherwin-WilliamsΔE 7.0Noticeable difference

RAL 180-1 is a RAL Effect color while Interesting Aqua comes from Sherwin-Williams. RAL 180-1 reads as blue, while Interesting Aqua reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 49 vs 41, RAL 180-1 will read as the brighter of the two — a 8-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 7.0, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

RAL 180-1 vs Interesting Aqua in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. RAL 180-1 and Interesting Aqua 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

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. RAL 180-1 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

RAL 180-1RAL Effect 180-1 living room interior

@visualization

Interesting AquaSw Interesting Aqua Living Room

@penderandpeony

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The brightness difference is modest but present — RAL 180-1 gives the walls a little more lift.

RAL 180-1RAL Effect 180-1 bathroom

@visualization

Interesting AquaSw Interesting Aqua Bathroom

@thatbitchaleea

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — RAL 180-1 gives the walls a little more lift.

RAL 180-1RAL Effect 180-1 victorian house interior

@visualization

Interesting AquaSherwin Williams Interesting Aqua Exterior

@nineddesign

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The brightness difference is modest but present — RAL 180-1 gives the walls a little more lift.

RAL 180-1RAL Effect 180-1 kitchen cabinets

@visualization

Interesting AquaInteresting Aqua Painted Cabinets

@masterstouchdesignbuild

Color Details

RAL 180-1
RAL Effect · RAL 180-1
Hex#AEBCC6
LRV48.5
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 180-1
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium
Interesting Aqua
Sherwin-Williams · 6220
Hex#9BAFB2
LRV40.8
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6220
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

RAL 180-1 vs Interesting Aqua Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 180-1 on one side and Interesting Aqua 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 180-1 comparisons

See how RAL 180-1 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
RAL 180-1
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
RAL 180-1
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
RAL 180-1
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

RAL 180-1 is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
RAL 180-1
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
RAL 180-1
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

RAL 180-1 reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
RAL 180-1
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
RAL 180-1
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
RAL 180-1
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

RAL 180-1 reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
RAL 180-1
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
RAL 180-1
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
RAL 180-1
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

RAL 180-1 is the lighter choice

Pale Green
RAL 180-1
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

RAL 180-1 reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
RAL 180-1
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

RAL 180-1 is the lighter choice

Cement grey
RAL 180-1
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

RAL 180-1 reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
RAL 180-1
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

RAL 180-1 is the lighter choice

Piazza
RAL 180-1
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
RAL 180-1
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
RAL 180-1
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

RAL 180-1 reads noticeably lighter

Senses
RAL 180-1
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

RAL 180-1 reads slightly lighter

Lamp Black
RAL 180-1
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

RAL 180-1 is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
RAL 180-1
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
RAL 180-1
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

RAL 180-1 is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
RAL 180-1
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

RAL 180-1 reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
RAL 180-1
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

RAL 180-1 is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
RAL 180-1
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Nearly identical in tone

Teton Blue
RAL 180-1
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

RAL 180-1 reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
RAL 180-1
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-1
RAL 180-1
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
RAL 180-1
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
RAL 180-1
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

RAL 180-1 is the lighter choice