Shadowy vs Artichoke
Shadowy (PPG) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 13-point LRV gap — 34 for Shadowy vs 21 for Artichoke — means Shadowy will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 17.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Shadowy vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Shadowy 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.
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. Shadowy reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
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. Shadowy returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Shadowy returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Home Office
Home office walls matter more than most — you're looking at them all day, and a color that reads fine at first can become tiring over time. Shadowy returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Shadowy returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Shadowy vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Shadowy 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 Shadowy comparisons
See how Shadowy stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 34, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 34), opening up a space where Shadowy encloses it.
Shadowy reads slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 34), opening up a space where Shadowy encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 34, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (34 vs 27) makes Shadowy the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 34), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 34, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (44 vs 34) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 34), opening up a space where Shadowy encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 34, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 34, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 34 vs 12, Shadowy is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 34 vs 8, Shadowy is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 34, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 34 vs 12, Shadowy is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (45 vs 34) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 34 and 31, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Shadowy reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.