Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom is a deep gray green paint color that is an overlooked cousin of big time charcoal favorites like Iron Ore or Urbane Bronze.
If you love a deep green or an interesting moody shade but you don’t like overly “bright” or saturated colors, you are going to love Rock Bottom.
What Color is Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom (SW 7062)
Rock Bottom is a deep moody green with a healthy dose of gray.
It’s kind of a strange name if you ask me, because it isn’t particularly reminiscent of either rocks or bottoms (I’ll see myself out…), and I certainly think you should reach for this color well before you reach rock bottom!
LRV of Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom
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 Rock Bottom is 7. This means that it is definitely a dark paint color approaching black, but it isn’t there yet.
In certain situations with really light colors or low lighting, Rock Bottom may look close to black because it is so grayed out.
What Are the Undertones of Rock Bottom
Rock Bottom is a green paint color.
If you were expecting a gray, or if it looks gray to you, then know that it will have a green undertone.
Rock Bottom can occasionally lean a little olive. Sometimes it can even look a touch blue-ish, particularly in bright natural light. I will try to point out as many different tones as I can when we get to real pictures.
You should note that any color that is really gray tends to be a chameleon. I think it’s because our brains are wired to see color.
Is Rock Bottom Warm or Cool
In my opinion, Rock Bottom is a neutral paint color. It has times that it might look cool, and times that it might look warm.
I’m not about to get in a fight with anyone, but many people consider green to be a cool color. I think it’s neutral because green is the transition area of the color wheel between yellow and blue.
Olive greens are warm, seafoam is cool, and Rock Bottom is right in the middle of the green range.
The important thing is that it pairs well with a lot of other colors, and I think you can use it like a neutral.
Rock Bottom Color Strip
I love me a deep green, and the Rock Bottom color strip is full of really sultry gray greens:
Okay….so I actually kind of made it up.
Like so many of their colors, Sherwin Williams doesn’t have Rock Bottom on a color strip. It is grouped into a collection of other dark paint colors.
I know you love to see a color strip, and I do too, so I tacked it onto the closest strip possible which is the Silver Strand to Night Owl color strip.
Now you may notice that on paper, Rock Bottom is just a little cooler than these other gray-greens, but I had a look at how these colors look in real life, and this line just fit the best.
If you do want slightly cooler alternatives, check out the Sherwin Williams Jasper color strip.
Lighter Version of Rock Bottom
In real life, Night Owl looks very very much like a lighter version of Rock Bottom.
Darker Version of Rock Bottom
For a darker version of Rock Bottom, there is the color Jasper that I just mentioned, or Sherwin Williams Greenblack – which is pretty close to black.
(I’ll compare the two in just a minute!)
Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom Color Palette
Here is neutral gray green color palette inspired by Rock Bottom:
Coordinating Colors for Rock Bottom
This palette features all colors by Sherwin Williams.
Oyster White
Oyster White is a neutral off white that would make for a great wall or cabinet color with Rock Bottom.
Analytical Gray
Analytical Gray is another option for a whole home wall color that is a little more concentrated than Oyster White. This greige is a perfect neutral earthy tone to pair with Rock Bottom.
Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay had to get involved with this moody ocean palette. This gray green is a slightly brighter tone that will look amazing with Rock Bottom.
Rock Bottom’s Complementary Color – Sherwin Williams Orginal White
The “official” complementary color for Rock Bottom (the shade directly across the color wheel) is actually something in the magenta-purple color family. I chose a color that is close to the right region, but looks neutral.
Sherwin Williams Original White is a grayish off-white that actually has warm undertones. Of course I’m biased, but I do think that Rock Bottom and Original White look amazing together!
What Trim Colors Go With Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom?
I love a green with wood tones, so Rock Bottom would definitely work with either oak or antique dark wood trim.
It’s actually one of my 9 Favorite Wall Colors that Match Wood Trim!
White Paint that Goes with Rock Bottom
Here are a few popular trim choices paired with Rock Bottom:
Rock Bottom with Alabaster Trim
Sherwin Williams Alabaster is a little too soft to be my first choice for trim with Rock Bottom. I personally like a crisper white, but Alabaster is probably the second most popular trim white that Sherwin Williams carries.
Pure White Trim with Rock Bottom
If I had to guess, Sherwin Williams Pure White is probably the #1 choice for trim, maybe even across all brands! It’s a soft neutral white that has a little bit of gray in it.
Pure White would look great with Rock Bottom! It’s a nice predictable white.
Rock Bottom and Snowbound for Trim
If you are torn between a really creamy white like Alabaster or the truer white of Pure White, Sherwin Williams Snowbound is always a good choice in the middle.
Snowbound is nice with Rock Bottom because it leans a little closer to the red-based whites, which is closer to Rock Bottom’s complementary color, while still remaining neutral.
Extra White Trim with Rock Bottom Walls
My first choice for trim with Rock Bottom would probably be Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. It’s a green-based white that reads like true white, but just a tiny bit warm.
In Sherwin Williams, the most popular green-based white is Extra White. A green white will pair so harmoniously with the green undertones of Rock Bottom.
Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom for Your Home’s Interior
Now the moment you have most likely been waiting for: How does Rock Bottom look in real life?
Well I’ll show you!
Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom Living Room
We took a little sneak peek at this living room by Kelli from Walnut and Pine Design (@walnutandpinedesign) when we talked about Rock Bottom with oak trim.
This mid-century modern space is right up my street!
I love how Rock Bottom is a bold choice, but not quite as intimidating as something like a bright teal.
Here is Rock Bottom looking its darkest, moodiest, best.
For the most part, Kelli’s home shows off the neutral to cool side of Rock Bottom.
Here is Rock Bottom in Kelli’s hallway, with brighter natural light.
More from Kelli in just a minute, because she also used Rock Bottom on an exterior!
Rock Bottom on an Accent Wall
Here is Rock Bottom on a fireplace feature wall with Oyster White, one of our coordinating colors!
Riley from Interior Scout Design used board and batten to fill the awkward void in the upper half of this room.
Rock Bottom in a Bathroom
I don’t always manage to find colors other than white in a bathroom, but today we did it!
Kristen (@kkendrickbigley) used Rock Bottom on the walls in her little powder room. Of this space under the stairs, Kristen said:
It’s the tiniest, most awkward space in the house and it needed some love to take it beyond the builder-grade blah.
Again Rock Bottom really makes the natural colors pop! In a small room like this, it does look quite close to black.
(Of course Kristen would have an eye for this sort of thing, because she’s an Artist! Check out her jewelery at @kkbmetalstudio.)
Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom on Kitchen Cabinets and Walls
I have an amazing kitchen FULL of Rock Bottom cabinets to show you today!
This kitchen build belongs to Crystal from @thegraceinfused_life. She used Rock Bottom on her cabinets, island, and open shelves.
Let’s move in for a closeup, shall we?
Yup. It’s nice from here too!
I go back and forth on whether Rock Bottom looks warm or cool here. I think arguments could be made for both, which is a good sign that it’s pretty neutral.
You might recognize Crystal’s kitchen from my post about Green Kitchen Cabinet Ideas, which would really be a good read for you, if that’s why you’re here!
You might already have deduced from the earlier photos that Rock Bottom is a contender for kitchen walls when you have oak cabinets, but just in case, here’s a gift from me:
Am I a photo shop guru? No. But does it seem like it? Also no.
But did that help? I hope so!
Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom on an Exterior
I love Rock Bottom inside and out! Let’s take a look at the exterior of Kelli’s home that we saw earlier.
Kelli’s house is a real color lovers dream, so the door is really no surprise:
The electric lime door is Sherwin Williams Humurous Green. In the carport is where you can see a warmer green look to Rock Bottom.
Here’s a closer shot of the siding:
I actually love that older wide siding. Our own bungalow had it as well. It looks ever-so-slightly olivey here.
Rock Bottom also looks great with the orange brick color!
Now for a new build, rather than a re-paint, is the home at Highland Haven (@highland.haven). It’s not quite done here, but you get a good idea of the color:
Rock Bottom works just as well with the darker colored brick.
In that photo you can also see the color looking cooler. (But it is also a bright blue day!)
Rock Bottom on Shutters
This white brick home has got to be one of my favorite exterior color combos…maybe ever!
The exterior is Sherwin Williams Alabaster, the door is SW Rookwood Dark Green, and the shutters are of course, Rock Bottom.
Rock Bottom Compared to Other Sherwin Williams Moody Paint Colors
There are a few uber popular chameleon colors by Sherwin Williams, and two of those are Iron Ore and Urbane Bronze. Both are not reallyyy the same as Rock Bottom at first glance, but both can also look greenish on occasion.
Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom vs Iron Ore (SW 7069)
Okay, Iron Ore is a warm charcoal that is technically in the yellowy beige color family. The funny thing about Iron Ore, is that it more often has an almost blueish charcoal appearance.
Here is Iron Ore vs Rock Bottom “on paper” so to speak.
Iron Ore looks much greener here than it normally would, because it’s beside the gray green of Rock Bottom.
Here’s a pretty good example of Iron Ore looking like Rock Bottom:
This is a more typical look for Iron Ore:
Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom vs Urbane Bronze (SW 7048)
Urbane Bronze is a deep gray-brown. It is not technically green at all either.
On paper, Rock Bottom looks almost teal in comparison.
Here is a good example of Urbane Bronze looking like Rock Bottom:
Here is a more typical look for Urbane Bronze:
The important thing to remember is that:
- Rock Bottom most often looks like a dark gray green
- Iron Ore most often looks like a slightly cool charcoal
- Urbane Bronze most often looks like a warm charcoal brown
In my opinion, Rock Bottom is less of a shape-shifter than these other two. If you are having trouble deciding, I would test all three. You just never know!
Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom vs Greenblack (SW 6994)
Sherwin Williams Greenblack is also a dark gray green, but it is a good bit darker than Rock Bottom and looks black about 70% of the time.
Greenblack is also cooler. It’s more in the aqua family. You can see more from Greenblack in my post Color Drenching Will Make Any Space Luxurious (And It’s Easy!)
Dupes for Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom
Almost ready to pull the trigger, but need to see some alternatives? I got you, Boo!
Benjamin Moore Rock Bottom Equivalent
Funny enough, my dupe for Rock Bottom was also one of my dupe options for the greener look of Iron Ore.
The closest color match to Rock Bottom in Benjamin Moore is the color Deep River.
Benjamin Moore Deep River (1582)
Deep River is a little warmer and a touch lighter than Rock Bottom,
Valspar (Lowe’s) Equivalent to Rock Bottom
The best dupe for Rock Bottom in Valspar, is the color Sable Calm.
Valspar Sable Calm (5002-2C)
Take a look, and hear me out…:
Sure, Sable Calm is a fair bit lighter than Rock Bottom, but it was the best match in terms of tone. I would rather show you dupes that are the same color, rather than the same lightness.
Valspar still classifies Sable Calm as a black, so you know you are getting a nice dark shade.
Even though it’s lighter, I personally like this option.
Rock Bottom Behr Equivalent (Home Depot)
I really think that Behr has the worst selection of very dark colors. Particularly when it comes to varieties of “black” they are always hard to color match. So imagine my surprise when I found a good dupe right off the bat!
The best Behr dupe for Rock Bottom, is the color Astronomical.
Behr Astronomical (N450-7)
Astronomical is a little cooler than Rock Bottom, and it’s also just a hair darker.
Really that’s a great match!
Here’s another look at all of the dupes over a background of Rock Bottom:
Rock Bottom Pros and Cons
Let’s recap with a good ‘ol pros and cons list!
Pros
- Really neutral
- Less popular and more predictable than other deep chameleon colors
- An amazing statement for exteriors, cabinets, or feature walls
Cons
- If you despise olive, you may not love Rock Bottom (test it out!)
I don’t have a lot of cons for Rock Bottom because I love the color! I didn’t really want to sit here thinking of things to dislike. If you like it at face value, I really think you will love this color too!
Not the one? I’ve got some other choices that might be! :
