African Violet vs Green Onyx
African Violet and Green Onyx come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, African Violet belongs to the purple family and Green Onyx to the green-greige family. The 21-point LRV gap — 31 for Green Onyx vs 11 for African Violet — means Green Onyx will open up a space more effectively. Where African Violet leans cool, Green Onyx reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 50.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
African Violet vs Green Onyx in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing African Violet and Green Onyx 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. Green Onyx reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than African Violet.
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. Green Onyx returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
African Violet vs Green Onyx Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see African Violet on one side and Green Onyx 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 African Violet comparisons
See how African Violet stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
Artichoke reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 11), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.