Ashen Tan vs Artichoke
Ashen Tan (Behr) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Ashen Tan reads as beige-greige, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 38-point LRV gap — 60 for Ashen Tan vs 21 for Artichoke — means Ashen Tan will open up a space more effectively. Where Ashen Tan leans red, Artichoke reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 30.4 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Ashen Tan vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Ashen Tan and Artichoke 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. Ashen Tan reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
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. Ashen Tan returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Ashen Tan returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Ashen Tan returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Ashen Tan vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ashen Tan on one side and Artichoke 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 Ashen Tan comparisons
See how Ashen Tan stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 60, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ashen Tan reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Ashen Tan reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
With LRVs of 60 and 60, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 60 vs 58), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 60 vs 27, Ashen Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
Ashen Tan reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (60 vs 55) makes Ashen Tan the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 44, Ashen Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 60), opening up a space where Ashen Tan encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (66 vs 60) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 60, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 12, Ashen Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (68 vs 60) makes Skimming Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 12, Ashen Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 45, Ashen Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
Ashen Tan reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Ashen Tan reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Ashen Tan reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
With LRVs of 60 and 57, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 60), opening up a space where Ashen Tan encloses it.