RAL 780-4 vs Iron Ore
RAL 780-4 (RAL Effect) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 780-4 reads as beige, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 41-point LRV gap — 47 for RAL 780-4 vs 6 for Iron Ore — means RAL 780-4 will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 52.4 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 780-4 vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 780-4 and Iron Ore 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 780-4 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. RAL 780-4 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. RAL 780-4 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 780-4 vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 780-4 on one side and Iron Ore 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 780-4 comparisons
See how RAL 780-4 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 47), opening up a space where RAL 780-4 encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (52 vs 47) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 47 vs 30, RAL 780-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 47, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 47), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 780-4 reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (47 vs 43) makes RAL 780-4 the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 47), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 47 and 44, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 47, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 47), opening up a space where RAL 780-4 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 47), opening up a space where RAL 780-4 encloses it.
RAL 780-4 reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 47), opening up a space where RAL 780-4 encloses it.
RAL 780-4 reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 47 and 45, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 47 vs 31, RAL 780-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 47 vs 7, RAL 780-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 47 vs 24, RAL 780-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (57 vs 47) makes Guilford Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 72 vs 47, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.