Artisan Tan vs Soulful Blue paint color comparison

Artisan Tan vs Soulful Blue

Artisan Tan and Soulful Blue come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Artisan Tan belongs to the beige-greige family and Soulful Blue to the blue-grey family. The 13-point LRV gap — 33 for Artisan Tan vs 20 for Soulful Blue — means Artisan Tan will open up a space more effectively. Where Artisan Tan leans warm, Soulful Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 34.1 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Artisan Tan vs Soulful Blue in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Artisan Tan and Soulful Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Bedroom

Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Artisan Tan returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Artisan TanA organic modern bedroom painted in Artisan Tan

@mybudgetrecipes

Soulful BlueSw 6543 Nursery

@cgar____

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. Artisan Tan returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Artisan TanArtisan Tan — wabi-sabi bathroom

@mybudgetrecipes

Soulful BlueSherwin Williams Soulful Blue bathroom color review

@farmfieldtoforeverhome

House

A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Artisan Tan returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Artisan TanArtisan Tan color — aesthetic house inspiration

@mybudgetrecipes

Soulful BlueSw Soulful Blue Exterior

@kerryjfitzpatrick

Color Details

Artisan Tan
Sherwin-Williams · 7540
LRV33.1
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7540
Undertone—
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
Soulful Blue
Sherwin-Williams · 6543
LRV20.3
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6543
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Artisan Tan vs Soulful Blue Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Artisan Tan on one side and Soulful Blue on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.