RAL 540-2 vs Artichoke
RAL 540-2 is a RAL Effect color while Artichoke comes from Sherwin-Williams. RAL 540-2 reads as pink-purple, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 42 vs 21, RAL 540-2 will read as the brighter of the two — a 21-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 38.9, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 540-2 vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 540-2 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.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 540-2 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Artichoke would.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that RAL 540-2 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Artichoke would.
Color Details
RAL 540-2 vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 540-2 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 540-2 comparisons
See how RAL 540-2 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 540-2 encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (52 vs 42) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
A 12-point LRV gap (42 vs 30) makes RAL 540-2 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 42, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 540-2 encloses it.
RAL 540-2 reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 42), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 540-2 encloses it.
With LRVs of 44 and 42, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 42, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 540-2 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 540-2 encloses it.
RAL 540-2 reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
RAL 540-2 reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 42), opening up a space where RAL 540-2 encloses it.
RAL 540-2 reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 42), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 11-point LRV gap (42 vs 31) makes RAL 540-2 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 42 vs 7, RAL 540-2 is decisively the brighter choice.