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.
At LRV 83 vs 11, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (11 vs 6) makes African Violet the marginally brighter of the two.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 11, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 11, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 11, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
African Violet reads slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 11, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 44 vs 11, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
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.
At LRV 66 vs 11, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 11, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 11, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 12 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 11, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
Treron reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 12 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 45 vs 11, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
African Violet reads slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Cement grey reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 11), opening up a space where African Violet encloses it.