RAL 740-5 vs Naval
RAL 740-5 (RAL Effect) and Naval (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 3-point LRV gap — 7 for RAL 740-5 vs 4 for Naval — means RAL 740-5 will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 37.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 740-5 vs Naval in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 740-5 and Naval 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. RAL 740-5 reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. RAL 740-5 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. RAL 740-5 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
RAL 740-5 vs Naval Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 740-5 on one side and Naval 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 740-5 comparisons
See how RAL 740-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 7, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 740-5 encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 740-5 encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 740-5 encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 7, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 7, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 740-5 encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 7, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 7, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 740-5 encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 7, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 7, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (12 vs 7) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 7, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (12 vs 7) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 7, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 740-5 encloses it.
With LRVs of 7 and 7, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Cement grey reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 740-5 encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 740-5 encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 740-5 encloses it.