Alexandrite vs Artichoke
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Alexandrite belongs to the green family and Artichoke to the grey family. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (22 vs 21), so they'll read as similarly Medium in most lighting conditions. Alexandrite runs cool while Artichoke is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 18.1, 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.
Alexandrite vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Alexandrite 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.
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 brings more warmth to the space, while Alexandrite keeps things cooler and crisper.
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 brings more warmth to the space, while Alexandrite keeps things cooler and crisper.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The temperature contrast between Artichoke and Alexandrite is what sets these apart most in this context.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Artichoke brings more warmth to the space, while Alexandrite keeps things cooler and crisper.
Color Details
Alexandrite vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Alexandrite 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 Alexandrite comparisons
See how Alexandrite stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 22, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Alexandrite reflects far more light (LRV 22 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 22, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (30 vs 22) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 22, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 22), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 22, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 22 vs 4, Alexandrite is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
Alexandrite reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 22, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
Alexandrite reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 22, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 22, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 25 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Alexandrite reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (31 vs 22) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 22 vs 7, Alexandrite is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 24 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 57 vs 22, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 22, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.