A painted lamp can be any colour, which is the easy part. The harder part is choosing one that still feels right on a grey February morning and under your own lamps at night. Here is how we would go about it.
Start with the right RAL system
RAL is the colour standard widely used in Europe for paints and coatings. We paint to both of its main systems, at the same price.
- RAL Classic. Four-digit codes such as RAL 9010 (pure white) or RAL 7016 (anthracite grey). RAL lists 216 colours in this collection. It is the long-established standard in architecture, so many projects already name a Classic code.
- RAL Design System plus. Seven-digit codes built from three numbers: hue (the position on the colour circle), lightness (0 is black, 100 is white) and chroma (0 is grey, 100 is the purest colour). RAL lists 1,825 colours in it, arranged in even steps.
The Design System makes it easy to go a step lighter or deeper without changing the character of a colour. Our Burnt Earth family walks one hue, 030, from light to deep: Blush (RAL 030 70 30), Rust (030 60 40), Oxide (030 50 40), Garnet (030 40 30) and Oxblood (030 30 20).
Or start from our 35
Seven families, each one hue from light to deep. The Basics are RAL Classic; the other six families are RAL Design.
| Family | Colours | System |
|---|---|---|
| Basics | Chalk, Cream, Ivory, Sand, Dune | RAL Classic |
| Raw Earth | Clay, Terra, Brick, Umber, Cacao | RAL Design, hue 050 |
| Burnt Earth | Blush, Rust, Oxide, Garnet, Oxblood | RAL Design, hue 030 |
| Pebble | Oat, Linen, Taupe, Mushroom, Espresso Grey | RAL Design, hue 080 |
| Moss | Sage Mist, Sage, Lichen, Stone Moss, Charcoal Moss | RAL Design, hue 130 |
| Dusk | Blush Grey, Dove, Mauve Stone, Plum Grey, Ash Plum | RAL Design, hue 340 |
| Mist | Fog, Cloud, Slate Mist, Steel, Storm | RAL Design, hue 250 |
Try any of them, or any RAL code, on every piece in the Colour Studio before you decide.
How a high-gloss colour reads in a room
Every U· piece gets a thick high-gloss clear coat over the colour. A glossy surface reflects what is around it: a window, the wall opposite, the other lamps in the room. So the same colour looks different by a window at noon, in a dim corner and at night. Screens vary too. That is why we post painted sample chips: hold one where the piece will live, at the times you will use it.
Matching your interior
- You have a RAL code. Type it into the Colour Studio (try “7016” or “anthracite”) and see every piece in it.
- You have a paint colour from a brand. Send us the reference, from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene or any other brand, or a photo of the chip. We propose the nearest RAL code and confirm it with you before we paint.
- You have a fabric or a tile. Send a swatch or a photo. Same process: nearest RAL, confirmed before we paint.
- You are specifying a project. Download a spec sheet in your RAL code from any piece page, or build a project list for a trade quote.
What changes, and what doesn’t
| Studio colour (one of our 35) | Custom RAL code or matched colour | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Same | Same |
| Lead time | Made to order, 4-6 weeks | Made to order, 4-6 weeks |
| Minimum | None | None, a single piece is fine |
| Before we paint | Nothing to confirm | We confirm the match by email within 48 hours of your order |
| If we can’t match it | Not applicable | Full refund |
| Change your mind | 30 days from delivery | No right of withdrawal, because the piece is made to your specification |
| Legal guarantee | 3 years | 3 years |
Questions
Does a custom RAL colour cost more?
No. Every piece is painted to order, so any colour costs the same, with no extra lead time and no minimum.
Can I get a sample first?
Yes. We post a painted chip in any RAL code on request.
How close will the colour be to my screen?
Screens vary, so treat the preview as a guide. We mix to the RAL reference and confirm custom matches by email within 48 hours of your order. If we can’t match it, you get a full refund.
Can I return a piece in a custom colour?
A piece in a custom RAL code, or matched to your sample, is made to your specification, so the legal right of withdrawal does not apply. Pieces in our 35 studio colours can be returned within 30 days of delivery. Faults are always covered by the 3-year legal guarantee.
Can the Sand Editions be painted?
No. The Sand Editions keep the finish of the printed sand. RAL colours are for the U· Collection.
Sources RAL colours FAQ, RAL gGmbH
