Mermaid Sea vs Artichoke
Mermaid Sea (Behr) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Mermaid Sea belongs to the blue family and Artichoke to the grey family. The 9-point LRV gap — 21 for Artichoke vs 13 for Mermaid Sea — means Artichoke will open up a space more effectively. Where Mermaid Sea leans green and blue, Artichoke reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 27.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Mermaid Sea vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Mermaid Sea 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. Artichoke reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Mermaid Sea.
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. Artichoke 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. Artichoke returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Artichoke 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. Artichoke returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Mermaid Sea vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Mermaid Sea 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 Mermaid Sea comparisons
See how Mermaid Sea stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 13), opening up a space where Mermaid Sea encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 13, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (13 vs 6) makes Mermaid Sea the marginally brighter of the two.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 13), opening up a space where Mermaid Sea encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 13), opening up a space where Mermaid Sea encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 13, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 13), opening up a space where Mermaid Sea encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 13, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 13, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 13), opening up a space where Mermaid Sea encloses it.
Mermaid Sea reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 13, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 13), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 44 vs 13, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 13), opening up a space where Mermaid Sea encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 13, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 13, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 13, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 13), opening up a space where Mermaid Sea encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 5-point LRV gap (13 vs 8) makes Mermaid Sea the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 13, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 13), opening up a space where Mermaid Sea encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 45 vs 13, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 13), opening up a space where Mermaid Sea encloses it.
Mermaid Sea reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.