Black Pepper vs Artichoke
Black Pepper (Benjamin Moore) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Black Pepper belongs to the blue-grey family and Artichoke to the grey family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 21 vs 21 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Black Pepper leans blue, Artichoke reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 22.2 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.
Black Pepper vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Black 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.
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 brings more warmth to the space, while Black Pepper keeps things cooler and crisper.
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. Black Pepper reads more restrained here, while Artichoke adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Black Pepper vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black 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 Black Pepper comparisons
See how Black Pepper stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 21), opening up a space where Black Pepper encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 21, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Black Pepper reflects far more light (LRV 21 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 21, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (30 vs 21) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 21), opening up a space where Black Pepper encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 21, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 21), opening up a space where Black Pepper encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 21), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 21, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 21 vs 4, Black Pepper is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 21), opening up a space where Black Pepper encloses it.
Black Pepper reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 21), opening up a space where Black Pepper encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 21, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 21), opening up a space where Black Pepper encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 21), opening up a space where Black Pepper encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 21), opening up a space where Black Pepper encloses it.
Black Pepper reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 21), opening up a space where Black Pepper encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 21, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 21, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (25 vs 21) makes Treron the marginally brighter of the two.
Black Pepper reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 21), opening up a space where Black Pepper encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (31 vs 21) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 21 vs 7, Black Pepper is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (24 vs 21) makes Cement grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 21, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 21, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.