Smoky Slate vs Artichoke
Smoky Slate (PPG) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Smoky Slate reads as greige-grey, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 13-point LRV gap — 34 for Smoky Slate vs 21 for Artichoke — means Smoky Slate will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 13.8 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.
Smoky Slate vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Smoky Slate 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. Smoky Slate 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. Smoky Slate 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. Smoky Slate 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. Smoky Slate 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. Smoky Slate returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Smoky Slate reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Color Details
Smoky Slate vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smoky Slate 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 Smoky Slate comparisons
See how Smoky Slate stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 34), opening up a space where Smoky Slate encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 34, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 34 vs 6, Smoky Slate is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 34), opening up a space where Smoky Slate encloses it.
Smoky Slate reads slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 34, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 34), opening up a space where Smoky Slate encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 34, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (34 vs 27) makes Smoky Slate the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 34), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Smoky Slate reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 34, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 34 vs 13, Smoky Slate 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 Smoky Slate 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 83 vs 34, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 34), opening up a space where Smoky Slate encloses it.
At LRV 34 vs 12, Smoky Slate is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 34 vs 8, Smoky Slate is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 34, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 41 vs 34), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 34 vs 12, Smoky Slate 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.
Smoky Slate reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.