RAL 840-2 vs Artichoke
RAL 840-2 (RAL Effect) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 840-2 reads as greige-grey, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 45-point LRV gap — 66 for RAL 840-2 vs 21 for Artichoke — means RAL 840-2 will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 33.8 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 840-2 vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 840-2 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
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 840-2 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 840-2 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 840-2 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 840-2 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 840-2 vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 840-2 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 840-2 comparisons
See how RAL 840-2 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 66, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 840-2 reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
RAL 840-2 reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
RAL 840-2 reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 8-point LRV gap (66 vs 58) makes RAL 840-2 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 66 vs 27, RAL 840-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 840-2 reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (66 vs 55) makes RAL 840-2 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 66 vs 44, RAL 840-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 66), opening up a space where RAL 840-2 encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 66 vs 66), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 8-point LRV gap (74 vs 66) makes Shoji White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 66 vs 12, RAL 840-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 68 vs 66), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 66 vs 12, RAL 840-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 66 vs 45, RAL 840-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 840-2 reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
RAL 840-2 reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
RAL 840-2 reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
RAL 840-2 reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 57), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Just Walnut reads slightly lighter (LRV 72 vs 66), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.