RAL 260-5 vs Citronella
RAL 260-5 is a RAL Effect color while Citronella comes from Sherwin-Williams. RAL 260-5 reads as beige, while Citronella reads as beige-yellow — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. With LRVs of 43 and 41, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. At ΔE 8.4, 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 260-5 vs Citronella in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. RAL 260-5 and Citronella 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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Color Details
RAL 260-5 vs Citronella Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 260-5 on one side and Citronella 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 260-5 comparisons
See how RAL 260-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 260-5 encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (52 vs 43) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 43 vs 30, RAL 260-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 43, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 260-5 encloses it.
RAL 260-5 reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 43), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 260-5 encloses it.
With LRVs of 44 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 43, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 260-5 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 260-5 encloses it.
RAL 260-5 reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
RAL 260-5 reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 43), opening up a space where RAL 260-5 encloses it.
RAL 260-5 reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 45 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 12-point LRV gap (43 vs 31) makes RAL 260-5 the marginally brighter of the two.