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SW On the Rocks is Anything But a Basic Light Gray (See the Evidence!)

    The world might be leaning a little more beige these days, but there are still plenty of reasons to use a nice soft gray in your decor. Sherwin Williams On the Rocks is a cool-leaning light gray that makes a great backdrop for your other decor and big ideas.

    Swatch of Sherwin Williams On the Rocks beside a picture of colorful rocks in Terrazzo tile

    Let’s take a look at On the Rocks in real homes, look through coordinating colors, and muse over a few solid alternatives.

    What Color is Sherwin Williams On the Rocks? (SW 7671)

    Despite the simply light gray look it has on the color chip, On the Rocks varies quite a lot in appearance from a grayish off-white to a soft blue gray. I would say that most often it looks like a light gray with cool blue undertones.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on walls with white trim behind living room decor including yellow flowers
    Photo Credit: @greatlakesgoldengirl

    LRV and RBG of Sherwin Williams On the Rocks

    The LRV of a color indicates on a scale of 0 – 100 how much light a color reflects (or doesn’t reflect). True black has an LRV of 0 and pure white has an LRV of 100.

    In the paint world, we are working in a range of about 3 – 93 because no paint color is purely black or completely white.

    The LRV of On the Rocks plotted at 62 on a chart from 0 (true black) to 100 (Pure White) over a background of white stones

    On the Rocks is not technically an off-white, because it’s LRV is all the way down at 62. That being said, if you don’t have a lot of white present, the color reads quite light.

    The RGB of On the Rocks is: Red 208, Green 206, Blue 200.

    Sherwin Williams provides the hex code for On the Rocks as: #D0CEC8.

    What Are the Undertones of On the Rocks?

    On paper On the Rocks is not technically a blue gray at all, it’s actually more of a greige:

    Swatch of On the Rocks beside a hex chart of the color over a background of an iceberg in blue water

    However, this color does have blueish undertones. This one is a little bit tricky! Next to a true blue-gray that is a little darker: On the Rocks will read warmer and greigey. Almost any other time, this color will look like a cool gray.

    I recently covered Behr White Metal, and it has a lot of the same characteristics.

    Does On the Rocks ever look yellow?

    No! Even though On the Rocks is technically a warmer gray, it doesn’t ever have a yellowy undertone.

    Is On the Rocks Warm or Cool?

    On the Rocks has elements of both a warm and cool color. Personally, I would treat it like a cool paint color because it most often has that blue undertone.

    On the Rocks Color Strip

    Unfortunately, On the Rocks doesn’t have a traditional light to dark color strip. Sherwin Williams has instead grouped it into a collection of white and off-white paint colors:

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks color strip features Pure White, Alabaster, Westhighland White, Egret White, Pediment, Crushed Ice, and On the Rocks. Background is a cup of ice with a sprig of Rosemary and a slice of cucumber.

    Here are all of the colors from this color strip:

    • Pure White (7005) 
    • Alabaster (7008) 
    • Westhighland White (7566) 
    • Egret White (7570)
    • Pediment (7634)
    • Crushed Ice (7647)
    • On the Rocks (7671)

    Lighter Version of On the Rocks – Solstice (SW 9571)

    You can see that none of the colors from the color strip are a perfect lighter or darker version of On the Rocks. I sifted through a whole bunch of Sherwin Williams colors, and settled on Solstice as a solid lighter alternative.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks paint dot, with lighter alternative Solstice, and darker alternative Silverplate.

    The LRV of Solstice is 69, so it is just a shade lighter.

    Darker Version of On the Rocks – Silverplate (SW 7649)

    For a slightly darker alternative to On the Rocks, check out Silverplate. It has an LRV of 53, so again, just a little bit darker.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks in a Color Palette

    I wanted to create a soft neutral color palette around On the Rocks that would go with both the cool and greigey undertones of this color:

    Sherwin Williams On the rocks color palette features Jasper Stone, Iron Ore, Pure White, Pavestone, and on the rocks over a terrazzo background.

    Coordinating Colors to Pair with On the Rocks

    Here are all of the colors that I chose for this palette:

    Jasper Stone

    Jasper Stone is a lighter shade on the same color strip as the deep dark favorite Jasper.

    Coordinating Colors On the Rocks and Jasper Stone swatched beside each other.

    The cool gray green color of Jasper Stone should make On the Rocks look it’s most neutral. (It’s always a good idea to test the colors together in your space, because they can be unpredictable.)

    Pure White

    I will show you a few more white options when we talk trim, but the fan favorite Pure White is generally a go-with-everything white:

    Coordinating Colors On the  Rocks and Pure White swatched beside each other.

    Because Pure White isn’t a cool white, it may make On the Rocks look a bit cooler (more blue).

    Pavestone

    The beautiful gray taupe of Pavestone is a darker neutral that shares the “sort-of-warm and sort-of-cool” qualities of On the Rocks.

    Coordinating Colors On the Rocks and Pavestone swatched beside each other.

    Iron Ore

    If you need a not-black chameleon color to pair with On the Rocks, you will love Iron Ore!

    Coordinating Colors On the Rocks and Irone Ore swatched beside each other.

    Iron Ore is also technically a warm gray that has cool blue undertones, so this would be an interesting, but somehow safe, color combination.

    Complementary Color for On the Rocks

    The “official” complementary color (the color directly across the wheel) from On the Rocks, would be a soft gray blue. Sherwin Williams Daydream is a pretty close match:

    Complementary Color for On the Rocks, Sherwin Williams Daydream, swatched beside On the Rocks

    You can see that a true blue like Daydream very much emphasizes the underlying warmth in On the Rocks. If you wanted to instead complement the blue undertones of On the Rocks, try a cream color.

    What Trim Colors Go With Sherwin Williams On the Rocks?

    For me personally, I would aim to have On the Rocks look as neutral as possible. This is just my preference, and will give you a result that is the closest to the actual swatch.

    Here are some cooler trim whites that will get the job done:

    White Trim colors paired with On the Rocks, including High Reflective White, Extra White, Natural White, and Ceiling Bright White

    You can kind of see from the graphic how the warmest trim color (top) makes the background looks most blue.

    White Paint that Goes with On the Rocks

    High Reflective White

    High Reflective White is the one white on this list that is totally neutral and not actually cool. This is the brightest white that Sherwin Williams offers, so it will make your walls look a bit darker. This one will also not necessarily minimize blue tones, but it won’t emphasize them either.

    Extra White

    This cool white is a popular choice for trim, and won’t add to the blue undertone of On the Rocks. (You can see more from Extra White in my post: Sherwin Williams Pure White vs Extra White)

    Natural White

    Natural White is a slightly gray white that will minimize the contrast between your On the Rocks walls and trim.

    Ceiling Bright White

    Ceiling Bright White is a cool and gray white that is actually not all that bright. This one should tone down the blue of On the Rocks.

    For a white trim color that complements and emphasizes the blue undertones in On the Rocks. Look for a truly warm white like Alabaster, Greek Villa, or White Flour.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks for Your Home’s Interior

    Finally! Let’s get to the good stuff and see this color in real life!

    On the Rocks in the Living Room

    Kristi from @housetohomenc used On the Rocks in a few areas of her home, starting in the living room:

    On the Rocks in a living room with a white fireplace and built ins
    Photo Credit: @housetohomenc

    You can see here that it looks like a fairly true gray.

    In this next photo it looks a bit cooler, and on the fireplace wall it does have a blue undertone:

    On the Rocks in a living room with a white fireplace and built ins
    Photo Credit: @housetohomenc

    Here is another photo where the room is a little farther along:

    On the Rocks walls with a white fireplace wall and black furniture
    Photo Credit: @housetohomenc

    One last photo of this living room:

    Closeup of a white fireplace and built ins, n a room with On The Rocks Walls
    Photo Credit: @housetohomenc

    Again I find the undertone fairly prominent. In this last photo it looks maybe a little bit purple.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks in a Dining Room

    Kristi also used On the Rocks in her dining room:

    Dining room table and walls in On the Rocks
    Photo Credit: @housetohomenc

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks in a Bedroom

    Before we dive right in to the bedrooms, I wanted to point out that in each of these rooms, the gray of On the Rocks looks both very light and very neutral.

    Upstairs at Kristi’s place, she used On the Rocks on the main walls in this bedroom:

    On the Rocks walls and SW Dovetail on a board and batten accent wall in an attic bedroom
    Photo Credit: @housetohomenc

    The accent wall is Sherwin Williams Dovetail. You can see that On the Rocks looks very light against the darker accent wall:

    Closeup of Dovetail on an accent wall in a bedroom with On the Rocks walls
    Photo Credit: @housetohomenc

    Using On the Rocks on the walls and the ceiling, really tricks your eyes into thinking it’s off white.

    Cactus House (@cactushouse.abq) also has On the Rocks in a few different rooms. Here it is in a bedroom:

    Sherwin Williams on the rocks on bedroom walls behind a bed with white and gray linens
    Photo Credit: @cactushouse.abq

    This room has lots of natural light, so again On the Rocks almost looks like an off-white. Only the trim gives it away:

    Sherwin Williams on the Rocks on the walls in a bedroom with large arched windows
    Photo Credit: @cactushouse.abq

    Here it is again in the same house, but another bedroom:

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on the walls of a small double bedroom
    Photo Credit: @cactushouse.abq

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks in a Kitchen

    Still at Cactus House, On the Rocks carries through into the kitchen:

    On the Rocks on kitchen walls with white cabinets and trim
    Photo Credit: @cactushouse.abq

    Originally the homeowners had white cabinets, but later they renovated and switched to dark:

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on the walls of a kitchen behind streamlined dark wood cabinets
    Photo Credit: @cactushouse.abq

    Nice for us to see this color with both!

    In @thefoxtudor, On the Rocks also appears on the walls of the kitchen:

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on the walls in a kitchen with floating bookshelves
    Photo credit: @thefoxtudor

    In this room, the blue undertone is definitely on display! Here is another shot:

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on the walls in a kitchen with floating bookshelves
    Photo credit: @thefoxtudor

    And one more for good measure:

    closeup of Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on the walls in a kitchen with floating bookshelves
    Photo credit: @thefoxtudor

    Unfortunately, I couldn’t find On the Rocks on cabinets, so we have to compromise and come up with a “good enough” example.

    Here are a couple photos of Repose Gray on cabinets that I have adjusted to be closer to the true color of On the Rocks:

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on kitchen cabinets. Originally Repose Gray but color corrected for this example.
    Color adjusted. Photo Credit: @bespokeredesign

    Repose Gray is a little bit darker and warmer than On the Rocks, so I brightened and cooled the photos.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on kitchen cabinets. Originally Repose Gray but color corrected for this example.
    Color adjusted. Photo Credit: @bespokeredesign

    It’s not perfect, but hopefully that helps you visualize a little better.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on an Exterior

    We run into a similar problem with exteriors when it comes to getting good examples of the color. Here is a home in a color that looks very very similar to how On the Rocks will look outside:

    A light gray two storey home in a color that looks like Sherwin Williams On the Rocks.
    Photo Credit: @peanutbuttertoast

    Any color will look lighter outside, so you can expect On the Rocks to be an almost off-white light gray with cool undertones.

    Can You Use On the Rocks for Exterior Trim?

    I would recommend only using On the Rocks for your trim if you are okay with it looking almost white. Especially next to a dark color, it is very likely to look like a cool off-white.

    On the Rocks Compared to Other Gray and Neutral Paint Colors

    Not sure about this color yet? Here is how it stacks up compared to similar colors that you may also be considering:

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks vs Agreeable Gray

    On the Rocks is much cooler and more gray than the greige of the famous SW Agreeable Gray:

    On the Rocks on half of a wall with Agreeable Gray on the other half behind a white chair and coffee table

    Agreeable Gray has an LRV of 60, so it is a hair darker than On the Rocks. You can see that it also looks very beige in comparison.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks vs Big Chill

    On the Rocks and Big Chill are super similar! So similar that you might be wondering why they even have both. (Same!) Big Chill is the tiniest bit more gray than On the Rocks.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on half of a wall and Big Chill on the other half, with their hex charts in front of them.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks vs Crushed Ice

    Crushed Ice has a slightly more purple undertone than On the Rocks. It is also a little bit lighter:

    On the Rocks on half of a wall with Crushed Ice on the other half behind a white countertop with plants on it

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks vs Passive

    Passive is a little bit darker than On the Rocks. It is also a cooler green-based gray:

    On the Rocks on half of a wall with Passive on the other half behind a bed with gray linens

    Passive happens to be one of my dupes for both Behr White Metal and Behr Silver Bullet, as it lies somewhere in between.

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks vs Repose Gray

    Repose Gray is a taupey gray so it reads a touch warmer than On the Rocks:

    On the Rocks on half of a wall with Repose Gray on the other half behind a light gray sofa with jewel toned cushions

    Repose Gray is more likely to have a slightly violet tone rather than the blue of On the Rocks. It also has an LRV of 58, so it is a bit darker.

    Dupes for SW On the Rocks

    Here are all of the best alternatives for On the Rocks from other brands:

    Dupes for Sherwin Williams On the Rocks include paint drops of Nimbus, Barren Plain, Filtered Shade, Dolphin Fin, and Sandstone Gray, over a background of stacked rocks on the beach.

    I didn’t get as close as I normally can in terms of color matches, so I gave a few more options than usual.

    Benjamin Moore On the Rocks Equivalent

    From Benjamin Moore, the closest match to On the Rocks is either Nimbus or Barren Plain.

    Benjamin Moore Nimbus (1465)

    Nimbus is just a tiny bit warmer than On the Rocks. You can see that it looks slightly beige in comparison:

    On the rocks vs dupe Benjamin Moore Nimbus. Each on half of a wall behind a black and copper chandelier.

    Benjamin Moore Barren Plain (2111-60)

    Barren Plain is also a little bit warmer than On the Rocks, but not as much as Nimbus. It is however, a bit lighter.

    On the rocks vs dupe Benjamin Moore Barren Plain. Each on half of a wall behind a light green sofa.

    Valspar (Lowe’s) Equivalent to On the Rocks

    If you’re heading to Lowe’s, I’ve got two options to consider there as well. The closest alternatives to On the Rocks, are Filtered Shade, and Sandstone Gray.

    Valspar Filtered Shade (4003-1B)

    Technically Filtered Shade is warmer than On the Rocks, but it’s also more gray, so it balances out:

    On the rocks vs dupe Valspar Filtered Shade. Each on half of a wall behind a sage green sofa and a wooden bookshelf

    Filtered Shade is more likely to have a purple undertone vs the blue of On the Rocks.

    Valspar Sandstone Gray (7004-18)

    Sandstone Gray is lighter and a touch more gray than On the Rocks.

    On the rocks vs dupe Valspar Sandstone Gray. Each on half of a wall behind a black and white gallery wall.

    On the Rocks Behr Equivalent (Home Depot)

    Unfortunately, I was not able to get quite as close to On the Rocks with Behr as I would have liked to. The best overall color match was Dolphin Fin.

    Behr Dolphin Fin (790C-3)

    Dolphin Fin is quite a popular Behr color all on its own. In fact you can read all abut it in my post: The Mysterious Color That is Behr Dolphin Fin

    Sherwin Williams On the Rocks on half of a wall with Behr equivalent Dolphin Fin on the other half, in a living room behind a dark gray leather sofa.

    Dolphin Fin is a little bit more greige and darker than On the Rocks. However it does do the same technically-warm-kind-of-looks-blue thing that On the Rocks does.

    If it’s a little bit too dark for you, you could try one shade lighter: Silver Drop.

    Here’s a recap of all the dupes:

    Background of Sherwin Williams On the Rocks with dupes swatched over top, including Nimbus, Barren Plain, Filtered Shade, Sandstone Gray, and Dolphin Fin

    Final Thoughts On the Rocks

    I hope this helped you decide if this is the perfect light gray for you! Thank you so much for reading to the end, that really helps my site.

    Not the right color? Here are some other posts for you to peruse:

    Behr Irish Mist colors dot over a background of a misty irish road
    Paint Swipe swatch of Benjamin Moore Dove Wing
    Paint swipe of accessible beige over living room painted in the same color with soft country style decor and art