RAL 850-2 vs Pussywillow
RAL 850-2 (RAL Effect) and Pussywillow (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, RAL 850-2 belongs to the grey family and Pussywillow to the greige-grey family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 44 vs 42 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. A ΔE of 2.5 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 850-2 vs Pussywillow in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. RAL 850-2 and Pussywillow 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. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
RAL 850-2 vs Pussywillow Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 850-2 on one side and Pussywillow 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 850-2 comparisons
See how RAL 850-2 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 44), opening up a space where RAL 850-2 encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (52 vs 44) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 44 vs 30, RAL 850-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 44, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 44), opening up a space where RAL 850-2 encloses it.
RAL 850-2 reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 44 vs 43), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 44 and 44, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 44, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 44), opening up a space where RAL 850-2 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 44), opening up a space where RAL 850-2 encloses it.
RAL 850-2 reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 44), opening up a space where RAL 850-2 encloses it.
RAL 850-2 reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 45 and 44, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 44 vs 31, RAL 850-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 7, RAL 850-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 24, RAL 850-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 44, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.