RAL 870-M vs Artichoke
Where RAL 870-M belongs to RAL Effect's range, Artichoke is a Sherwin-Williams color. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Artichoke (LRV 21) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 870-M (LRV 7), a difference of 14 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 28.0, 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 870-M vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 870-M 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 870-M 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 870-M.
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 870-M.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Artichoke reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 870-M.
Color Details
RAL 870-M vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 870-M 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 870-M comparisons
See how RAL 870-M stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 7, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 870-M encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 870-M encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 870-M encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 7, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 7, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 870-M encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 7, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 7, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 870-M encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 7, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 7, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (12 vs 7) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 7, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (12 vs 7) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 7, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 870-M encloses it.
With LRVs of 7 and 7, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Cement grey reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 870-M encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 870-M encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 7), opening up a space where RAL 870-M encloses it.