RAL 690-4 vs Blue Nile
RAL 690-4 (RAL Effect) and Blue Nile (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. The 5-point LRV gap — 13 for Blue Nile vs 8 for RAL 690-4 — means Blue Nile will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 2.5 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 690-4 vs Blue Nile in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. RAL 690-4 and Blue Nile are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
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. Blue Nile reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Blue Nile has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Blue Nile has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Blue Nile has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
RAL 690-4 vs Blue Nile Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 690-4 on one side and Blue Nile 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 690-4 comparisons
See how RAL 690-4 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 8), opening up a space where RAL 690-4 encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 8, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 8, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 8, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 8), opening up a space where RAL 690-4 encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 8), opening up a space where RAL 690-4 encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 8, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 8), opening up a space where RAL 690-4 encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 8), opening up a space where RAL 690-4 encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 8, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 8), opening up a space where RAL 690-4 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 8), opening up a space where RAL 690-4 encloses it.
Pewter Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 8 and 8, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 8), opening up a space where RAL 690-4 encloses it.
Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 8), opening up a space where RAL 690-4 encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 8, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.