Steel Symphony 4 vs Artichoke
Steel Symphony 4 (Dulux) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Steel Symphony 4 belongs to the blue-grey family and Artichoke to the grey family. The 33-point LRV gap — 54 for Steel Symphony 4 vs 21 for Artichoke — means Steel Symphony 4 will open up a space more effectively. Where Steel Symphony 4 leans cool, Artichoke reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 31.4 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.
Steel Symphony 4 vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Steel Symphony 4 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. Steel Symphony 4 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
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. Steel Symphony 4 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Steel Symphony 4 vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steel Symphony 4 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 Steel Symphony 4 comparisons
See how Steel Symphony 4 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 54), opening up a space where Steel Symphony 4 encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 54, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 54 vs 6, Steel Symphony 4 is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 54 and 52, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Steel Symphony 4 reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 54 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 54), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 4-point LRV gap (58 vs 54) makes Accessible Beige the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 54 vs 27, Steel Symphony 4 is decisively the brighter choice.
Steel Symphony 4 reads slightly lighter (LRV 54 vs 43), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Steel Symphony 4 reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 55 vs 54), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 54 vs 13, Steel Symphony 4 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (54 vs 44) makes Steel Symphony 4 the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 54), opening up a space where Steel Symphony 4 encloses it.
A 12-point LRV gap (66 vs 54) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 54, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 54, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Steel Symphony 4 reads slightly lighter (LRV 54 vs 51), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 54 vs 12, Steel Symphony 4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 54 vs 8, Steel Symphony 4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 54, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Steel Symphony 4 reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
At LRV 54 vs 12, Steel Symphony 4 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (54 vs 45) makes Steel Symphony 4 the marginally brighter of the two.
Steel Symphony 4 reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Steel Symphony 4 reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.