RAL 120-5 vs Artichoke
RAL 120-5 (RAL Effect) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 120-5 reads as beige, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 48-point LRV gap — 70 for RAL 120-5 vs 21 for Artichoke — means RAL 120-5 will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 34.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 120-5 vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 120-5 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. RAL 120-5 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. RAL 120-5 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. RAL 120-5 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. RAL 120-5 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. RAL 120-5 returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
RAL 120-5 vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 120-5 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 RAL 120-5 comparisons
See how RAL 120-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 70, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 120-5 reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
RAL 120-5 reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
RAL 120-5 reads slightly lighter (LRV 70 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 12-point LRV gap (70 vs 58) makes RAL 120-5 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 70 vs 27, RAL 120-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 120-5 reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
At LRV 70 vs 55, RAL 120-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 70 vs 44, RAL 120-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 70), opening up a space where RAL 120-5 encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (70 vs 66) makes RAL 120-5 the marginally brighter of the two.
A 5-point LRV gap (74 vs 70) makes Shoji White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 70 vs 12, RAL 120-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 70 vs 8, RAL 120-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 70 vs 68), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 70 vs 12, RAL 120-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 70 vs 45, RAL 120-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 120-5 reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
RAL 120-5 reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.