Artifact
Often used for its versatile qualities, Artifact remains a staple for Sherwin-Williams designers. It is widely considered one of the best colors in its class to add character and warmth to any space. We've gathered 10 real-home scenarios to help you visualize this color alongside our expert data.
Hex
#9A815E
LRV
23.38
Artifact's Color Strip
Artifact is the sixth shade on this 7-color strip, sitting between Burlap and Mossy Gold. The strip spans from Netsuke at the lightest end to Mossy Gold at the deepest. Strip 208 puts these related shades in sequence, making it simple to find the tone that suits your room.
Artifact in Real Rooms
Artifact has a medium LRV of 23.38 — it adds real depth and will read noticeably darker as natural light fades. It's neutral in temperature and , making it adaptable across different lighting conditions and room orientations. Grouped in the Yellow family, the photos below show it applied in a bathroom, home office, bedroom, dining room, front door, living room, patio, mudroom, kitchen and house.
1 Bathroom Photo
The interaction between Artifact and steam or humidity creates a beautiful, diffused atmosphere in a bathroom. It's a color that feels "alive," shifting slightly in character as the environment changes during a hot shower or a long soak.
Artifact — wabi-sabi bathroom
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Home Office Photo
For those who spend their day on camera, Artifact is a highly flattering background color. It doesn't wash out skin tones or create weird reflections, providing a professional and "expensive" look for virtual meetings and presentations.
Sherwin-Williams Artifact in a industrial home office
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Bedroom Photo
Pairing Artifact with tonal textures—like a silk rug or a bouclé chair—creates a layered, monochromatic look that is the height of sophistication for a bedroom. It proves that you don't need high-contrast colors to create a room that feels high-design and deeply personal.
A moody bedroom painted in Artifact
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Dining Room Photo
The color Artifact has a way of making wood furniture look its best. Whether you have a dark mahogany table or a light oak sideboard, the undertones of the paint will pull out the natural beauty and grain of the wood.
Artifact paint in a traditional dining room
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Front Door Photo
There's a psychological sense of "arrival" when you step up to a door painted in Artifact. It feels solid, grounded, and permanent, giving both residents and guests a sense of stability as they cross the threshold.
minimalist front door featuring Artifact by Sherwin-Williams
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Living Room Photo
Artifact anchors the living room with a quiet, architectural confidence. Its depth shifts subtly through the day — cooler in the crisp morning light and significantly warmer by lamplight in the evening — making it a natural fit for a space meant for both high-energy gathering and silent unwinding. To maximize the effect, layer in natural white oak, heavy linen, and soft metallics to let the color truly breathe.
A organic modern living room painted in Artifact
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Patio Photo
Exterior color behaves differently than interior — there's more bleaching, more weather, and more competition from the natural surroundings. Artifact holds its character in open light and tends to look even better after a few seasons than it does fresh from the can.
wabi-sabi patio featuring Artifact by Sherwin-Williams
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Mudroom Photo
The mudroom is often the first interior space guests see. Artifact makes that threshold feel considered and designed without demanding more attention than it deserves. It's a "hardworking" color that still maintains its dignity.
Artifact paint in a traditional mudroom
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Kitchen Photo
In a modern kitchen, Artifact provides the necessary "organic" touch to offset stainless steel appliances and glass backsplashes. It prevents the kitchen from feeling like a laboratory, injecting a much-needed sense of domestic warmth and culinary inspiration.
Artifact — contemporary kitchen
@mybudgetrecipes
1 House Photo
In suburban environments, Artifact provides a sophisticated point of difference. It stands out from the sea of beige and grey without being "that house" that's too loud. It's the subtle, high-end choice that improves the curb appeal of the entire block.
Artifact color — rustic modern house inspiration
@mybudgetrecipes
Expert Perspectives
In-depth articles and real-home features from across our network of home and design sites.
Coordinating Colors
With LRVs of 23 and 23, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Trim Color
Similar Colors
With LRVs of 23 and 22, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 3-point LRV gap (27 vs 23) makes Tangled Twine the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 25 vs 23), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 24 vs 23), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 23 and 23, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 23 and 22, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 23 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Complementary Colors
Artifact reads slightly lighter (LRV 23 vs 11), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Artifact reflects far more light (LRV 23 vs 7), opening up a space where Sea Mariner encloses it.
Starry Night reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 23), opening up a space where Artifact encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (23 vs 20) makes Artifact the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 23 and 22, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 4-point LRV gap (28 vs 23) makes Dusty Heather the marginally brighter of the two.
Lighter Colors
A 5-point LRV gap (28 vs 23) makes Sandy Ridge the marginally brighter of the two.
Stone Lion reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 23), opening up a space where Artifact encloses it.
At LRV 38 vs 23, Prairie Grass is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 26 vs 23), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Darker Colors
At LRV 23 vs 10, Artifact is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (23 vs 19) makes Artifact the marginally brighter of the two.
Artifact reads slightly lighter (LRV 23 vs 18), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 4-point LRV gap (23 vs 19) makes Artifact the marginally brighter of the two.