RAL 290-1 vs Agreeable Gray
RAL 290-1 (RAL Effect) and Agreeable Gray (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, RAL 290-1 belongs to the beige family and Agreeable Gray to the greige-grey family. The 23-point LRV gap — 60 for Agreeable Gray vs 38 for RAL 290-1 — means Agreeable Gray will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 46.4 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 290-1 vs Agreeable Gray in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 290-1 and Agreeable Gray 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. Agreeable Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 290-1.
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. Agreeable Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Agreeable Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Agreeable Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Agreeable Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
RAL 290-1 vs Agreeable Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 290-1 on one side and Agreeable 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 290-1 comparisons
See how RAL 290-1 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 38, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 290-1 encloses it.
RAL 290-1 reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 58 vs 38, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (38 vs 27) makes RAL 290-1 the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 38, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (44 vs 38) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 290-1 encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 38, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 38, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 12, RAL 290-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 38, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 12, RAL 290-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (45 vs 38) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
RAL 290-1 reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 290-1 reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
RAL 290-1 reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 290-1 encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 290-1 encloses it.