RAL 290-3 vs Shoji White

RAL 290-3RAL EffectvsShoji WhiteSherwin-WilliamsΔE 41.7Very different colors

RAL 290-3 (RAL Effect) and Shoji White (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 290-3 reads as beige, while Shoji White reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 32-point LRV gap — 74 for Shoji White vs 43 for RAL 290-3 — means Shoji White will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 41.7 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 290-3 vs Shoji White in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 290-3 and Shoji 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. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 290-3.

RAL 290-3RAL Effect 290-3 living room

@visualization

Shoji WhiteShoji White SW 7042 living room

@mybudgetrecipes

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. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

RAL 290-3RAL Effect 290-3 bedroom

@visualization

Shoji WhiteBedroom painted in Sherwin-Williams Shoji White

@mybudgetrecipes

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. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

RAL 290-3RAL Effect 290-3 minimalist bathroom

@visualization

Shoji WhiteWhite bathroom in Shoji White by Sherwin Williams

@mybudgetrecipes

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. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

RAL 290-3RAL Effect 290-3 victorian house interior

@visualization

Shoji WhiteShoji White house color review

@mybudgetrecipes

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. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

RAL 290-3RAL Effect 290-3 kitchen cabinets

@visualization

Shoji WhiteSw Shoji White Kitchen Cabinets

@oldschoolcharmvintage

Color Details

RAL 290-3
RAL Effect · RAL 290-3
Hex#D8A960
LRV42.8
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 290-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams · 7042
Hex#E6DFD3
LRV74.3
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7042
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight

RAL 290-3 vs Shoji White Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 290-3 on one side and Shoji White 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 290-3 comparisons

See how RAL 290-3 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
RAL 290-3
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
RAL 290-3
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
RAL 290-3
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

RAL 290-3 is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
RAL 290-3
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
RAL 290-3
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

RAL 290-3 reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
RAL 290-3
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
RAL 290-3
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Accessible Beige
RAL 290-3
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
RAL 290-3
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

RAL 290-3 reads noticeably lighter

French Gray
RAL 290-3
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

Nearly identical in tone

Naval
RAL 290-3
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

RAL 290-3 is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
RAL 290-3
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Bancha
RAL 290-3
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

RAL 290-3 is the lighter choice

Hardwick White
RAL 290-3
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Nearly identical in tone

Pure White
RAL 290-3
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
RAL 290-3
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

RAL 290-3 reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
RAL 290-3
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Snowbound
RAL 290-3
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
RAL 290-3
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

RAL 290-3 is the lighter choice

Skimming Stone
RAL 290-3
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone is the lighter choice

Dix Blue
RAL 290-3
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Calamine
RAL 290-3
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine reads noticeably lighter

Treron
RAL 290-3
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

RAL 290-3 reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
RAL 290-3
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

RAL 290-3 is the lighter choice

Saybrook Sage
RAL 290-3
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Nearly identical in tone

Pale Green
RAL 290-3
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

RAL 290-3 reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
RAL 290-3
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

RAL 290-3 is the lighter choice

Cement grey
RAL 290-3
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

RAL 290-3 reads noticeably lighter

Guilford Green
RAL 290-3
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Guilford Green reads noticeably lighter

Just Walnut
RAL 290-3
Just Walnut
Dulux
Just Walnut
LRV 72

Just Walnut is the lighter choice