Artifact vs Artisan Tan
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the beige-greige family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Artisan Tan (LRV 33) reflects noticeably more light than Artifact (LRV 23), a difference of 10 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 9.2 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 10 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Artifact vs Artisan Tan in Real Spaces
10 real rooms side by side. Artifact and Artisan Tan are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
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 Artisan Tan will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Artifact 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. Artisan Tan reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artifact.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Artisan Tan reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artifact.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Artisan Tan returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Artisan Tan reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artifact.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Artisan Tan reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artifact.
Mudroom
Mudrooms are seen in passing, often under whatever light comes through the door — a context that favors colors with some depth. Artisan Tan returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Patio
Outside, paint color competes with sky, landscaping, and direct sun — all of which shift how both of these read compared to an indoor chip. Artisan Tan returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Artisan Tan reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artifact.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Artisan Tan will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Artifact would.
Color Details
Artifact vs Artisan Tan Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Artifact on one side and Artisan Tan 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.