RAL 520-5 vs French Gray
RAL 520-5 (RAL Effect) and French Gray (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. The 29-point LRV gap — 43 for French Gray vs 15 for RAL 520-5 — means French Gray will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 51.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives.
RAL 520-5 vs French Gray Color Comparison
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.
Color Details
RAL 520-5 vs French Gray in Real Spaces
Seeing RAL 520-5 and French Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete. Browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall. Showing 3 room types where both colors have photos.
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. French Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Plan Home visualization
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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. French Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Plan Home visualization
@livingwithchlo_
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. French Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Plan Home visualization
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More RAL 520-5 comparisons
See how RAL 520-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Benjamin Moore
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Farrow & Ball
RAL 520-5 reads lighter
RAL Effect vs Sherwin-Williams
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Farrow & Ball
Evergreen Fog reads lighter
RAL Effect vs Sherwin-Williams
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Farrow & Ball
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Sherwin-Williams
Denim Drift reads lighter
RAL Effect vs Dulux
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Dulux
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Benjamin Moore
RAL Effect vs Benjamin Moore
RAL Effect vs Benjamin Moore
Pale Green reads lighter
RAL Effect vs RAL Classic
RAL Effect vs Dulux
RAL Effect vs Dulux
Cement grey reads lighter
RAL Effect vs RAL Classic
RAL 520-5 reads lighter
RAL Effect vs RAL Classic
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Jotun
Windmill Lane reads lighter
RAL Effect vs Little Greene
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Jotun
RAL 520-5 reads lighter
RAL Effect vs Little Greene
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Jotun
RAL Effect vs Little Greene
RAL Effect vs Little Greene
RAL Effect vs Behr
RAL Effect vs Behr
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs Behr
Teton Blue reads lighter
RAL Effect vs Behr
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect
RAL 520-5 reads lighter
RAL Effect vs NCS
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs NCS
Light vs dark contrast
RAL Effect vs NCS