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8 Dark and Moody Exterior Colors From Sherwin Williams

    Exterior in Sherwin Williams Iron Ore with 8 dark and moody SW colors from the article swatched over top.

    Exteriors colors are a big commitment, and something that many of us may only choose once. A dark exterior is both bold and classic, and will almost always be my personal recommendation.

    Here are my very favorite Sherwin Williams colors for dark and moody exteriors. I’m pretty sure you’ll find the winner for your makeover here!

    collage of all the dark and moody paint colors from the article including Thunderous, Cyberspace, Iron Ore, Jasper, Urbane Bronze, Porpoise, and Greenblack. Background photo is a sunset behind a house painted in Iron Ore and Pure White.

    Without further ado, and in no particular order:

    Cyberspace

    Sherwin Williams Cyberspace is a deep charcoal with blue undertones. It can look almost navy outside, as you can see here:

    Cyberspace on outside of historical home with White trim and brick
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    You will see a few photos from Headwaters Painting (@headwaters_painting_llc) here, so be sure to check out their IG for even more beautiful exteriors!

    Here it looks a little more gray, but not as much as it can.

    Cyberspace on outside of historical home with White trim and brick
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    Bear in mind that the orange of the brick is very complementary to Cyberspace, so that also is making the color look more blue.

    Here is a picture of it inside, so you can see how it looks more charcoal:

    Cyberspace shiplap on bedroom ceiling with beams
    Photo Credit: @in_vest_homes

    Cyberspace is perfect if you are torn between a dark gray or blue. It really is the best of both!

    Paint dot swatch of Sherwin Williams Cyberspace on an exterior with white trim.

    Iron Ore

    Sherwin Williams Iron Ore is probably the most popular of all the exterior colors on this list.

    Paint dot swatch of Sherwin Williams Iron Ore over a photo of the same color on a dark and Moody exterior siding beside neutral stonework.

    This deep charcoal is usually chosen as a slightly softer alternative to black:

    Wide shot of sprawling arizona ranch home with Iron Ore Siding, brick accents, and black roof
    Photo Credit: @tararowemckenna

    If you do a deep dive on Iron Ore, you will quickly learn that this color is a chameleon. It can look anywhere from almost black, to blue-charcoal, or even a little greenish.

    Here it looks pretty neutral:

    Wide angle shot of Iron Ore Garage on a Pure White house exterior
    Photo Credit: @bertrand_residence

    Here it looks a bit cooler:

    Paint dot swatch of Sherwin Williams Iron Ore over a photo of the same color on the front of a dark and Moody exterior with neutral stone work out front.

    Here is that same house, but where the color whispers ever so slightly of olive or brown:

    Sweeping view of Iron Ore siding on a sprawling Arizona ranch with patio
    Photo Credit: @tararowemckenna

    Here is a pretty typical look for Iron Ore:

    Iron Ore is a gorgeous choice for a moody exterior, but it is a little unpredictable as you can see! Personally I like every look that Iron Ore has, so the fact that it’s a chameleon is a plus!

    Jasper

    Sherwin Williams Jasper looks its very best outside the home. This sultry forest green has so much personality!

    Paint dot swatch of Sherwin Williams Jasper over a photo of the same color on a dark and Moody exterior siding with a red door.

    Jasper is super deep and saturated.

    SW Jasper exterior and trim with bright red door
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    Don’t let the almost-black look in these photos fool you:

    Sherwin Williams Jasper on an exterior with a red door
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    In direct bright light you will see Jasper for the deep green that it is!

    Jasper exterior and trim in bright outdoor light from the back
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    I’m a huge fan of this color, if only because a deep green like this is actually pretty traditional. It might feel like a bold choice, but it’s actually pretty safe. It is very similar to the green that you see trimming many an old white house.

    Urbane Bronze

    Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze is another deep chameleon charcoal, but much warmer than its colleague Iron Ore.

    Paint dot swatch of Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze over a photo of the same color on the front dormer of a two storey exterior with neutral stone work out front.

    Urbane Bronze is about equal parts gray and brown. It’s a perfect choice if you were torn between a neutral beige or a dark gray:

    Urbane Bronze siding and garage door with white stone facade
    Photo Credit: @piper_stromatt

    Urbane Bronze is a particularly good choice for exteriors because it is deep and moody but very neutral, without being overused! As much as Urbane Bronze is a semi popular color, it isn’t use outside a whole lot.

    Urbane Bronze on wood paneled walls in the lounge of a mid century modern home with floor to ceiling back windows.
    Photo Credit: @brandeyehome

    The surprise undertone of Urbane Bronze is the occasional whisper of olive:

    Paint dot of the deep brown of Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze down the long side of a two storey home.

    Just like with Iron Ore, I like Urbane Bronze no matter how it is showing up on any given day, so that’s why it is one of my top picks for exteriors!

    Thunderous

    Sherwin Williams Thunderous is the lightest, and probably the most underrated color on this list!

    Sherwin Williams Thunderous on an exterior of a two storey home with white trim and manicured gardens and lawn. A paint dot of the color sits on top of the photo.

    Thunderous is a bit of a puzzle. It is almost equal parts gray and green, but with a hint of beige. The result is a muted sage green that can lean either warm or cool.

    Thunderous on an exterior of a classic two storey home with white trim and a landscaped grass yard.
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    Thunderous is one of those colors that people will definitely ask you about! It’s such an interesting choice, but with broad appeal.

    A paint dot swatch of Sherwin Williams Thunderous over a photo of a garage with Thunderous siding and a white garage door.

    Greenblack

    Sherwin Williams Greenblack is the only color on this list that actually reads pretty black.

    Paint dot swatch of the moody darkness of Sherwin Williams Greenblack, over a photo of an outbuilding in the woods painted in the same color.

    Think of it as a black with a green undertone, rather than a dark green.

    Sherwin Williams Greenblack looks black on a barn
    Photo credit: @thenottinghome
    Greenblack looking more forest green on a barn exterior
    Photo credit: @thenottinghome

    I love Greenblack because it’s like black without the harshness. It’s perfect for exteriors because green belongs in the great outdoors!

    closeup of unfinished home with Greenblack exterior siding and brick
    Photo credit: @homesweetiepiehome
    Greenblack looking very plain black against a
    Photo credit: @homesweetiepiehome

    Rock Bottom

    Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom is one of my favorite cabinet colors, but it also looks amazing outside!

    Paint dot swatch of Sherwin Willams Rock Bottom over a lime green door in a house with Rock Bottom colored siding. A black and white dog sits happily on the front step.

    Rock Bottom is a dark gray green that can have a slightly olive undertone.

    Here it is looking a little on the warm side:

    Paint dot swatch of Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom over a photo of the same color on a dark and Moody exterior siding above an orange brick planter with white stones and snake plants.

    Rock Bottom is fabulous because it works so well with any style of home. Here it is on a retro bungalow:

    Rock Bottom on a mid-century modern bungalow with a half orange brick front.
    Photo Credit: @walnutandpinedesign

    And on a fresh new build:

    Rock Bottom siding on a new build in a modern farmhouse style
    Photo Credit: @highland.haven

    If a paint color can be sexy and mysterious, I think Rock Bottom is.

    Porpoise

    Sherwin Williams Porpoise is one of only two colors on this list with a truly warmer undertone (Urbane Bronze is the other one).

    Paint dot of Sherwin Wlliams Porpoise over a photo of the same color on exterior siding
    Photo Credit: @Prodigiouspainting

    This charcoal is like a deep greige:

    Paint dot of Sherwin Wlliams Porpoise over a photo of the same color on exterior siding

    There’s something very comforting about this color. It is a charcoal that reads almost totally gray, but with just a bit of warmth.

    Like most charcoal colors, it can sometimes pick up a greenish undertone but I haven’t seen it super often.

    Two tone contemporary home in stucco with Alabaster and Porpoise for the paint colors
    Photo Credit: @Prodigiouspainting

    Of all the places you could use this neutral, I really think an exterior is best. It’s a showstopper outdoors, where inside it could be a little boring. This is a very underrated and underused Sherwin Williams color, with all the hallmarks of a fan favorite!

    Graphic reads "dark & moody Sherwin Williams Exterior colors" over a background of a home painted in Iron Ore.

    I hope this post gave you some amazing exterior design inspo for what could be the biggest project your home sees during your reign!

    Still browsing? Here are some other colors that I LOVE for exteriors:

    Sherwin williams rosemary swatch over a photo of a rosemary den
    Sherwin Williams Homburg Gray color strip featuring extra white, Tinsmith, earl gray, and finally: Homburg Gray
    Benjamin Moore Soot Color Strip features from light to dark: Silver Cloud, Mt Rainier Gray, Winter Lake, Normandy, Blue Note, Soot, and Midnight Dream