Merlot Red vs Artichoke
Where Merlot Red belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Artichoke is a Sherwin-Williams color. Hue-wise, Merlot Red belongs to the pink-red family and Artichoke to the grey family. Artichoke (LRV 21) reflects noticeably more light than Merlot Red (LRV 12), a difference of 10 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Merlot Red runs red while Artichoke is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 49.8, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Merlot Red vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Merlot Red 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 Merlot Red comparisons
See how Merlot Red stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
