RAL 490-1 vs Snowbound
RAL 490-1 (RAL Effect) and Snowbound (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 490-1 reads as pink-red, while Snowbound reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 13-point LRV gap — 83 for Snowbound vs 70 for RAL 490-1 — means Snowbound will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 14.3 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 490-1 vs Snowbound in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 490-1 and Snowbound 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. Snowbound reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 490-1.
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. Snowbound returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Snowbound 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. Snowbound 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. Snowbound 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. Snowbound 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 490-1 vs Snowbound Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 490-1 on one side and Snowbound 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 490-1 comparisons
See how RAL 490-1 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 70, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 490-1 reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
RAL 490-1 reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
RAL 490-1 reads slightly lighter (LRV 70 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 70 vs 58, RAL 490-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 70 vs 27, RAL 490-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 490-1 reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
At LRV 70 vs 55, RAL 490-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 70 vs 44, RAL 490-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 70), opening up a space where RAL 490-1 encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (70 vs 66) makes RAL 490-1 the marginally brighter of the two.
A 4-point LRV gap (74 vs 70) makes Shoji White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 70 vs 12, RAL 490-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 70 vs 8, RAL 490-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 70 vs 68), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 70 vs 12, RAL 490-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 70 vs 45, RAL 490-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 490-1 reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
RAL 490-1 reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.