RAL 840-4 vs Shoji White

RAL 840-4RAL EffectvsShoji WhiteSherwin-WilliamsΔE 35.8Very different colors

RAL 840-4 (RAL Effect) and Shoji White (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, RAL 840-4 belongs to the grey family and Shoji White to the beige-greige family. The 53-point LRV gap — 74 for Shoji White vs 21 for RAL 840-4 — means Shoji White will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 35.8 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

RAL 840-4 vs Shoji White in Real Spaces

6 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 840-4 and Shoji White 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. Shoji White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 840-4.

RAL 840-4RAL Effect 840-4 living room

@visualization

Shoji WhiteShoji White SW 7042 living room

@mybudgetrecipes

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. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

RAL 840-4RAL Effect 840-4 bedroom

@visualization

Shoji WhiteBedroom painted in Sherwin-Williams Shoji White

@mybudgetrecipes

Kitchen

Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

RAL 840-4RAL Effect 840-4 kitchen review

@visualization

Shoji WhiteSherwin Williams Shoji White kitchen cabinets

@mybudgetrecipes

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. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

RAL 840-4RAL Effect 840-4 minimalist bathroom

@visualization

Shoji WhiteWhite bathroom in Shoji White by Sherwin Williams

@mybudgetrecipes

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. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

RAL 840-4RAL Effect 840-4 victorian house interior

@visualization

Shoji WhiteShoji White house color review

@mybudgetrecipes

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. Shoji White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

RAL 840-4RAL Effect 840-4 kitchen cabinets

@visualization

Shoji WhiteSw Shoji White Kitchen Cabinets

@oldschoolcharmvintage

Color Details

RAL 840-4
RAL Effect · RAL 840-4
Hex#808077
LRV21.4
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 840-4
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams · 7042
Hex#E6DFD3
LRV74.3
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7042
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight

RAL 840-4 vs Shoji White Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 840-4 on one side and Shoji White on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 840-4 comparisons

See how RAL 840-4 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
RAL 840-4
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
RAL 840-4
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
RAL 840-4
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

RAL 840-4 reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
RAL 840-4
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
RAL 840-4
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
RAL 840-4
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
RAL 840-4
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Accessible Beige
RAL 840-4
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
RAL 840-4
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads slightly lighter

French Gray
RAL 840-4
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

French Gray reads noticeably lighter

Naval
RAL 840-4
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

RAL 840-4 reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
RAL 840-4
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Bancha
RAL 840-4
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

RAL 840-4 reads slightly lighter

Hardwick White
RAL 840-4
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Hardwick White reads noticeably lighter

Pure White
RAL 840-4
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
RAL 840-4
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Nearly identical in tone

Balboa Mist
RAL 840-4
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Snowbound
RAL 840-4
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
RAL 840-4
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

RAL 840-4 reads slightly lighter

Skimming Stone
RAL 840-4
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone is the lighter choice

Dix Blue
RAL 840-4
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Dix Blue reads noticeably lighter

Calamine
RAL 840-4
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine is the lighter choice

Treron
RAL 840-4
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Treron reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
RAL 840-4
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

RAL 840-4 reads slightly lighter

Saybrook Sage
RAL 840-4
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Saybrook Sage reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
RAL 840-4
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
RAL 840-4
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

RAL 840-4 reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
RAL 840-4
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Nearly identical in tone

Guilford Green
RAL 840-4
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Guilford Green is the lighter choice

Just Walnut
RAL 840-4
Just Walnut
Dulux
Just Walnut
LRV 72

Just Walnut is the lighter choice