RAL 820-1 vs RAL 860-3
Both are RAL Effect colors. Hue-wise, RAL 820-1 belongs to the blue-grey family and RAL 860-3 to the grey family. At LRV 57 vs 54, RAL 820-1 will read as the brighter of the two — a 3-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. With a ΔE of 2.1, the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side to reliably tell them apart. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 820-1 vs RAL 860-3 in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. RAL 820-1 and RAL 860-3 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. RAL 820-1 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — RAL 820-1 gives the walls a little more lift.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The brightness difference is modest but present — RAL 820-1 gives the walls a little more lift.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — RAL 820-1 gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
RAL 820-1 vs RAL 860-3 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 820-1 on one side and RAL 860-3 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 820-1 comparisons
See how RAL 820-1 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
