RAL 840-5 vs Forestwood
RAL 840-5 (RAL Effect) and Forestwood (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the green-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 11 vs 8 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. ΔE 5.4 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 840-5 vs Forestwood in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. RAL 840-5 and Forestwood 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
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. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Color Details
RAL 840-5 vs Forestwood Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 840-5 on one side and Forestwood 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 840-5 comparisons
See how RAL 840-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 11), opening up a space where RAL 840-5 encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 11, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 11, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 11, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 11), opening up a space where RAL 840-5 encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 11), opening up a space where RAL 840-5 encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 11, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 11), opening up a space where RAL 840-5 encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 11), opening up a space where RAL 840-5 encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 11, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 11), opening up a space where RAL 840-5 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 11), opening up a space where RAL 840-5 encloses it.
With LRVs of 12 and 11, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 11 and 8, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 11), opening up a space where RAL 840-5 encloses it.
With LRVs of 12 and 11, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 11), opening up a space where RAL 840-5 encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 11, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.