RAL 490-5 vs Artichoke
RAL 490-5 (RAL Effect) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 490-5 reads as pink-red, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 8-point LRV gap — 29 for RAL 490-5 vs 21 for Artichoke — means RAL 490-5 will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 35.1 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 490-5 vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 490-5 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 490-5 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 490-5 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 490-5 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 490-5 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 490-5 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 490-5 vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 490-5 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 490-5 comparisons
See how RAL 490-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 29, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 29), opening up a space where RAL 490-5 encloses it.
With LRVs of 30 and 29, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 29), opening up a space where RAL 490-5 encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 29, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 29 vs 27), so neither reads brighter in a room.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 29), opening up a space where RAL 490-5 encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 29, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 29, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 29), opening up a space where RAL 490-5 encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 29, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 29, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 29 vs 12, RAL 490-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 29, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 29 vs 12, RAL 490-5 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 29, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 31 and 29, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
RAL 490-5 reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
RAL 490-5 reads slightly lighter (LRV 29 vs 24), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 29), opening up a space where RAL 490-5 encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 29), opening up a space where RAL 490-5 encloses it.