Sherwin Williams On the Rocks SW 7671: Paint Color Review

Sherwin Williams On the Rocks: a popular blend between warm & cool

If you’ve been researching the TOP gray paint colors, it’s no surprise that you stumbled across Sherwin Williams On the Rocks. Not only is it one of the most POPULAR shades of gray, but it also has some of the more subtle undertones, making it versatile for many interior projects.

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), On the Rocks 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 paint color, or if you prefer, a SOFT one. Some gray paint colors are ICY cold, whereas others are more 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.

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 SUPREME 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 their 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 with what camera.
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, making it BANG-ON my magical paint number for the ‘average room‘. This LRV puts On the Rocks in the light range (learn more HERE).

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.

In this next photo, even though the room is reasonably bright, On the Rocks holds its violet hue quite well. To be honest, this is BY FAR as violet as you can expect On the Rocks to EVER EVER look…

USING PEEL & STICK SAMPLES TO EXPLORE ON THE ROCKS!

Like with every paint color, I highly recommend using SAMPLIZE. Samplize is a peel & stick paint sample that you can easily move around your room for over HALF THE COST of traditional sample pots – and they deliver right to your front door!

Learn all about Samplize HERE

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

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

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

Long story short, while On the Rocks has a violet undertone, it shouldn’t read like a ‘true violet 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 ON THE ROCKS?

With On the Rocks, I recommend Sherwin Williams High Reflective White for your trim or cabinets. If you like a slightly softer approach, Sherwin Williams Pure White is just as pretty.

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The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams

IS ON THE ROCKS A GOOD EXTERIOR COLOR?

On the Rocks can work on the exterior as long as you and your home’s finishes are okay with that violet undertone. While it can sit more passively on interior walls, it can show up a wink more on some exteriors. Also, remember that this DEPTH/LRV of paint color can wash out quite a bit if you have a lot of bright natural light.

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

IS ON THE ROCKS POPULAR?

On the Rocks isn’t as popular as the warmer end of the gray world. However, as it relates to grays that can look that bit cooler, it’s at the top of MY list.

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’s Big Chill has a blue undertone compared to On the Rock’s violet undertone.
• Benjamin Moore Collingwood is warmer than On the Rocks but has a similar depth.

WHAT PAINT COLORS GO WITH ON THE ROCKS?

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

• cool gray paint colors that are the same depth or DARKER than it, especially with similar undertone profiles
• it can handle gray colors with blue or blue-green undertones (but doesn’t love committed green undertones as much in some depths)
• On the Rocks DOESN’T love most greige, cream or beige paint colors unless they’re SUPER muted and in the off-white range
• it DOES like to be partnered with white, blue-gray paint colors and navy blue!

Not sure if On the Rocks is right for you? Want a bit warmer or cooler? I’ve got more!

Paint Color Review: Sherwin Williams Crushed Ice

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Big Chill

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Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Repose Gray

Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED IN 2022