River Blue vs Artichoke
River Blue (Benjamin Moore) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, River Blue belongs to the blue family and Artichoke to the grey family. The 14-point LRV gap — 21 for Artichoke vs 7 for River Blue — means Artichoke will open up a space more effectively. Where River Blue leans blue, Artichoke reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 34.7 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.
River Blue vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing River Blue 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 River Blue.
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
River Blue vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see River Blue 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 River Blue comparisons
See how River Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
