Smokey Taupe vs Artichoke
Smokey Taupe is a Benjamin Moore color while Artichoke comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, Smokey Taupe belongs to the beige-greige family and Artichoke to the grey family. At LRV 55 vs 21, Smokey Taupe will read as the brighter of the two — a 33-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Smokey Taupe's red character against Artichoke's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 27.6, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Smokey Taupe vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Smokey Taupe 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Smokey Taupe returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Smokey Taupe will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Artichoke would.
Color Details
Smokey Taupe vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smokey Taupe 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 Smokey Taupe comparisons
See how Smokey Taupe stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
