Sherwin Williams On the Rocks SW 7671: Undertones, Alternatives, & More

On the Rocks is a light gray paint color, most commonly used in…wait, is it commonly used at all? Not really, as it often gets passed over for more popular shades like Repose Gray and Crushed Ice. However, it deserves its place in the limelight – or the graylight would be more the point.

When it comes to easy-to-live-with grays, On the Rocks should be on the ‘best of’ list. Great for rooms and exteriors, its LRV and undertones make it a great option. So, let’s get into the gut n’ glory of why I love it and often recommend it to my clients.

WHAT TYPE OF PAINT COLOR IS ON THE ROCKS?

On the Rocks is an impressive shade of gray. When it comes to a gray that looks like a true gray (no undertones), it certainly nods in this direction, but remember – EVERY GRAY HAS UNDERTONES (which we’ll be looking at shortly).

IS ON THE ROCKS A WARM OR COOL GRAY?

On the Rocks is neither warm nor cool; it’s what I fondly call a ‘stormy’ gray, or if you prefer, a soft one. Some gray paint colors are icy cold, whereas others are obviously warm. While On the Rocks has a tiny wink of warm softness, it’s fractional at best. Just like Malcolm – it’s in the middle.

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This also means it can flex a lot, depending on your room’s exposure. For example, if you have a north-facing room, On the Rocks can lean more into its gray base, looking much colder (violet-blue) WITHOUT looking icy. On the other hand, if your room has south-facing light or afternoon western sunshine, you can expect On the Rocks to look a bit warmer, without looking like a traditional warm gray paint color.

In this next photo, On the Rocks is washed out by a huge hit of natural light (windows and skylights) and photography skills, but all the same, she sure is purdy…

Sherwin Williams Pure White vanity

Here’s the same bathroom with more muted natural light and no interior lighting. All the same, these two photos are as warm as I’ve seen On the Rocks look…

North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?

What do the above two photos teach us?

1. Paint colors can shift in appearance based on the time of day and the weather of the day.
2. You can also expect a shift depending on who’s taking the photo and which camera they’re using.
3. The degree of editing that’s done.

This tells us never to choose a paint color based on what we see in a photo – do your research in your OWN home by reading and sampling. Which leads us to…

WHAT’S THE LRV OF ON THE ROCKS?

On the Rocks has an LRV of 62, putting it in my magical paint number for the ‘average room‘. This LRV puts it in the light range.

Thank you to my Color Consulting clients for sending in their after photos – they make my colorful world go round! 

Not sure what LRV is? Finish this blog post first, and then CLICK HERE TO HAVE YOUR MIND BLOWN.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of On the Rocks…

WHAT ARE THE UNDERTONES OF ON THE ROCKS? Will it look purple or blue?

On the Rocks can appear pretty and soft with a purple-violet hue. In some lighting (e.g., north-facing or cool bulbs), this undertone can lean slightly cooler but rarely looks like a legit purple-blue. On the other hand, put it in a room with some solid southern or western afternoon sunshine, and it picks up a wee wink of warmth (to call it purple-pink would be an overstatement).

While these hues are contrary to what On the Rock’s scientific measurements might suggest, that’s the way it goes with paint colors in REAL HOMES!

The term ‘undertone’ is a way of describing the way you might expect a paint color to lean or look on your walls. 

This next photo is about as violet as you can expect, keeping in mind it’s visually supported by other gray violets.

Long story short, while On the Rocks has a purple undertone, it shouldn’t read like a ‘true purple hue’. As for blue, I’d be darn surprised and would be looking at my paint color’s environment before I considered changing the color itself (i.e. consider the exposure, adjust the light bulb temperatures, etc…).

WHICH WHITE PAINT COLOR GOES WITH IT?

If you’re choosing white trim or cabinets to go with On the Rocks, here are your best options…

• If you like a slightly softer approach, I always recommend Sherwin Williams Pure White to my clients. It’s a soft white, but it offers a nice contrast.

• For more contrast, check out Sherwin Williams White Snow

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WHERE ON THE ROCKS WORKS BEST (& WHERE IT DOESN’T)

Let’s start with the short list and work out from there…

• Single rooms
• Open-concept spaces and whole homes
• Exterior (siding or stucco – not trim)

AS AN EXTERIOR COLOR

On the Rocks can work on the exterior as long as you and your home’s finishes are okay with that purple undertone. Brick homes are less likely to humor On the Rocks, whereas those with stacked stone or riverrock often suit it quite well!

Also, remember that this DEPTH/LRV of paint color can wash out quite a bit in bright natural light.

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

AS A WHOLE HOME PAINT COLOR

Can On the Rocks be used in your whole house? Yes, it definitely can. I only hesitate because the gray trend is long gone. Now, this doesn’t mean YOU can’t love it if you aren’t selling and don’t worry about trends, but if either is a concern, I’d be leery.

IS IT A GOOD CABINET COLOR?

While it likely works with a range of countertops and backsplashes, I never suggest it to clients as it’s DARN HARD to coordinate a good, lighter wall color with.

WHICH PAINT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO ON THE ROCKS?

If you’re looking for an exact match in a different brand, you’ll never get one. However, there are many colors with similar intentions, just slightly different LRVs, undertones, and nuances.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS ON THE ROCKS VS. BIG CHILL

I love comparing apples to apples or white wines to white wines (the more the merrier), which is why comparing these 2 shades is fun for me.

On the Rocks and Big Chill are similar types of paint colors; both are light shades of gray. Right off the hop, they’re the same depth with their matching LRVs of 62.

They’re also crazy similar in their undertones (bias). Neither has a green undertone, though they could wink that way in the right situation (lighting/surroundings). Of the 2, Big Chill is slightly more likely. Both have a similar warmth…a subtle one, meaning that while they’re warm grays, it’s not by much, with On the Rocks being marginally warmer.

In my work with both of these colors, Big Chill is a gray that settles to a pretty darn neutral tone with a slight blue hue. On the Rocks comes off neutral, too, but a purple hue occasionally slides in, as you can see in previous images.

Sherwin Williams Big Chill Color Review

ON THE ROCKS VS. REPOSE GRAY

In comparing these 2 colors, there’s a more noticeable difference, starting with depth.

On the Rocks has an LRV of 62, whereas Repose Gray is slightly darker at 58. While they’re both light paint colors, OTR is lighter.

As for temperature, Repose Gray can appear a bit warmer and muddier compared to On the Rocks, giving it a more organic look.

DOES BENJAMIN MOORE HAVE SIMILAR SHADES?

They don’t have an exact match, but I’d definitely sample and compare…

• Benjamin Moore Nimbus for a slightly darker, more purple-hued look (mad love)
• Benjamin Moore Collingwood is a gorgeous option if you want a bit more softness and warmth.

Benjamin Moore Collingwood

WHAT PAINT COLORS GO WITH ON THE ROCKS?

I love On the Rocks, but, like me, it’s finicky regarding its partners. You can start by checking out…

• COOL GRAYS: Cool gray paint colors that are the same depth or DARKER than it, especially with similar undertone profiles
• GRAY-BLUES: It can handle gray colors with blue or blue-green undertones (but doesn’t love committed green undertones as much in some depths)
• AVOID: Most beige and tan paint colors unless they’re SUPER muted and in the off-white or light range – all the same, tread carefully
• OFF-WHITES: Many of the lighter, more subtle off-white paint colors can work with On the Rocks
• MEDIUM GREEN OR DARKER: If you need a great accent color, medium-depth green-grays or darker shades of green can be glorious
• NAVY BLUE: It DOES like to be paired with white, blue-gray paint colors, and navy blue!

SUMMARY

• On the Rocks has an LRV of 62, making it a light paint color.
• It’s popular in single rooms, open-concept spaces, and whole homes, so long as being trendy isn’t important
• It best suits whites that are a bit cleaner/less warm
• It doesn’t suit cream cabinets or trim, but goes with a range of wood stains
• Its best accent colors include dark greens, blues, and gray-greens

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Updated with new images and content for 2026