RAL 820-5 vs Artichoke
Where RAL 820-5 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Artichoke is a Sherwin-Williams color. RAL 820-5 reads as blue-grey, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Artichoke (LRV 21) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 820-5 (LRV 9), a difference of 12 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 26.9, 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 820-5 vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 820-5 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
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 Artichoke will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than RAL 820-5 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. Artichoke reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 820-5.
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. Artichoke reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 820-5.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Artichoke reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 820-5.
Color Details
RAL 820-5 vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 820-5 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 820-5 comparisons
See how RAL 820-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 9, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 9, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 9, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 9, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 9, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 9 and 8, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 9, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 9 vs 7), so neither reads brighter in a room.