RAL 490-2 vs Artichoke
Where RAL 490-2 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Artichoke is a Sherwin-Williams color. RAL 490-2 reads as pink-red, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. RAL 490-2 (LRV 68) reflects noticeably more light than Artichoke (LRV 21), a difference of 46 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 38.3, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 490-2 vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 490-2 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 490-2 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Artichoke would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. RAL 490-2 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. RAL 490-2 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. RAL 490-2 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Color Details
RAL 490-2 vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 490-2 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 490-2 comparisons
See how RAL 490-2 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
