RAL 290-1 vs Artichoke
Where RAL 290-1 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Artichoke is a Sherwin-Williams color. RAL 290-1 reads as beige, while Artichoke reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. RAL 290-1 (LRV 38) reflects noticeably more light than Artichoke (LRV 21), a difference of 16 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 41.9, 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 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 290-1 vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing RAL 290-1 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
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 RAL 290-1 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Artichoke 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. RAL 290-1 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
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. RAL 290-1 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
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. RAL 290-1 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. RAL 290-1 reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Artichoke.
Color Details
RAL 290-1 vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 290-1 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 RAL 290-1 comparisons
See how RAL 290-1 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 38, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 290-1 encloses it.
RAL 290-1 reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 290-1 encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 38, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (38 vs 27) makes RAL 290-1 the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 38, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (44 vs 38) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 290-1 encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 38, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 38, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 12, RAL 290-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 8, RAL 290-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 38, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 12, RAL 290-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (45 vs 38) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
RAL 290-1 reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 290-1 reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.