Red Pepper vs Artichoke
Red Pepper (Behr) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Red Pepper reads as pink-red, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 13-point LRV gap — 21 for Artichoke vs 8 for Red Pepper — means Artichoke will open up a space more effectively. Where Red Pepper leans red, Artichoke reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 36.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Red Pepper vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Red Pepper 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.
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.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Artichoke reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Red Pepper.
Color Details
Red Pepper vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Red Pepper 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 Red Pepper comparisons
See how Red Pepper stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 8, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
With LRVs of 8 and 6, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 52 vs 8, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 8, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 8, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 8, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (8 vs 4) makes Red Pepper the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
Bancha reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 8, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 8, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Pewter Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 8 and 8, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 8, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 8), opening up a space where Red Pepper encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 8, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 8 vs 7), so neither reads brighter in a room.