RAL 490-5 vs Functional Gray
Where RAL 490-5 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Functional Gray is a Sherwin-Williams color. RAL 490-5 reads as pink-red, while Functional Gray reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Functional Gray (LRV 37) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 490-5 (LRV 29), a difference of 8 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 26.2, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 490-5 vs Functional Gray in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 490-5 and Functional 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — Functional Gray gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Functional Gray reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Functional Gray reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Functional Gray reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Functional Gray reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
RAL 490-5 vs Functional Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 490-5 on one side and Functional 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 490-5 comparisons
See how RAL 490-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
