RAL 820-2 vs Iron Ore
Where RAL 820-2 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Iron Ore is a Sherwin-Williams color. Hue-wise, RAL 820-2 belongs to the blue-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. RAL 820-2 (LRV 42) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 36 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 42.6, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 820-2 vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 820-2 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.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. RAL 820-2 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. RAL 820-2 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. RAL 820-2 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. RAL 820-2 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Color Details
RAL 820-2 vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 820-2 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 820-2 comparisons
See how RAL 820-2 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 42, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 42), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 820-2 reads slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 820-2 encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 42, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 27, RAL 820-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 43 and 42, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 55 vs 42, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 44 vs 42), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 820-2 encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 42, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 42, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 12, RAL 820-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 42, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 12, RAL 820-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (45 vs 42) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
RAL 820-2 reads slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 820-2 reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
RAL 820-2 reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 820-2 encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 820-2 encloses it.