Sherwin Williams Skipping Rocks: Undertones, LRV, & More
By Kylie
February 7, 2021
SKIPPING ROCKS SW 9551: LRV, Undertones and a Little More
Just when I thought Benjamin Moore Gray Owl was a color unto itself, Sherwin Williams comes out with Skipping Rocks. And if you’re looking for a FLEXIBLE, versatile gray, it just might be the color you’re searching for.
In order to show you RELATEABLE & REAL homes, I ONLY use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients. This means I don’t always have the quality pics I need, especially with these NEW colors. However, you’ll DEFINITELY find some SUPER helpful info to help you on your way!
What type of paint color is Sherwin Williams Skipping Rocks? Is it a warm or cool gray?
Skipping Rocks comes across neither warm nor cool, but more like a STORMY gray. I mean, sure, if we break it down, it’s a barely warm gray, but will only look that way in certain conditions.
If you have north-facing light, expect Skipping Rocks to lean more into its gray base, with slightly more noticeable undertones. If you have strong south-facing light or warm afternoon western sunshine, that’s when Skipping Rocks could look SLIGHTLY warm – but even that’s a stretch of the imagination.
Read more: North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
What’s its LRV?
Skipping Rocks has an LRV of 63 which is friggin’ MAGICAL in my books. This moderate LRV means Skipping Rocks is a light depth color that’s well-suited to a variety of rooms.
Just be careful, as if you have a super DARK room, Skipping Rocks could look a bit drab and depressing and you’ll need some GOOD LIGHT BULBS to remedy that. If you have an OVERLY bright room, it will wash out quite a bit, as will any color in this range.
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
What are the undertones of Skipping Rocks? Will it look like a TRUE gray?
Because there IS no true, useable gray, you can fully expect Skipping Rocks to pick up any of the three cool undertones, specifically blue-green.
Skipping Rocks is quite similar to Benjamin Moore Gray Owl in its flexibility
What’s the best way to sample this color on my walls?
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
If I’m painting my walls Skipping Rocks, what color should I paint my trim?
Skipping Rocks is relatively flexible when it comes to its white partners. A few good ones to start with are…
- Sherwin Williams Pure White (fave)
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
Read more…
The Five Types of White Paint Colors
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
Is Skipping Rocks a good exterior color?
ABSOLUTELY, as long as its undertones work with any brick or stonework. Skipping Rocks is MORE likely to be flexible towards a wider range of roof colors. If you don’t have any brick or stonework (or only a minimal amount), there’s a BETTER chance it will work for you and your home. Also, expect it to look CONSIDERABLY lighter in natural light, especially with southern exposure.
Let’s take a look at the very similar (and slightly lighter) Benjamin Moore Gray Owl for a basic frame of reference…
Read more: 5 Tips to Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
What Benjamin Moore paint colors are the same as or similar to Skipping Rocks?
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl. While Gray Owl seems to have a WINK more green in it, you can expect Skipping Rocks to look and act quite similarly. This means you could learn A LOT about this paint color by reading Gray Owl’s color review – I would. Gray Owl has a slightly higher LRV (almost 66), but the two colors are definitely kissin’ cousins (good ones, not weird ones).
Just remember, EVERY paint color has its own particular nuances and there will be NO perfect match.
What type of paint colors look good with Skipping Rocks?
Skipping Rocks is a BIT finicky, but as long as you follow a few rules, you should get along just fine!
- Taupes and greiges with similar LRV’s or LIGHTER
- Some gray-blue blends that are darker than Skipping Rocks
- Subtle and soft off-white paint colors
And much more!
Not sure if Skipping Rocks is right for you? Want a bit warmer or cooler? I’ve got more!
SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLONNADE GRAY
Read more: Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray
SHERWIN WILLIAMS GOSSAMER VEIL
Read more: Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Gossamer Veil
12 BEST WHOLE HOME PAINT COLORS
Read more: The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Paint Colors
Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
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Meet Kylie
Do you need help, but aren’t quite sure what ‘help’ looks like? Are you drowning in paint samples and decision fatigue?
Does every color you like at the paint store look terrible in your lighting or pick up a funky undertone? I’d love to help.
Hi, I’m Kylie
For over 24 years I’ve helped 12,000+ homeowners and renters make more confident decisions on paint colors and affordable home updates using real home examples and practical, experience-based advice. My goal is simple: help you love the home you have.
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Homeowner’s Guide: White Kitchen Cabinets
This isn’t another ’10 Best Cabinet Colors’ list, because there is no SINGLE best white for every home and every kitchen.
Learn how to choose a white cabinet paint color that works with your countertops, backsplash, flooring, trim, lighting, and home—so you can rule out the wrong whites, sample fewer colors, and choose with confidence.
158-page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95Accent Colors – And How to Use Them
This isn’t about plastering your home in the ‘Color of the Year’ or following the latest trends (unless you really want to).
It’s about finding accent colors that work with YOUR home, YOUR style, and YOUR comfort level.
Because the best accent color isn’t one you love on a paint chip, it’s one that makes everything around it look better.
118-Page PDF – Instant Download
$34.95
Homeowner’s Guide: Exterior Paint Colors
Painting your home’s exterior is a BIG investment and choosing a color based on a tiny paint chip, a trend or the house down the street can be an expensive mistake.
Learn how to look at YOUR roof, YOUR windows, YOUR brick (or stone) and YOUR home as a whole so you can understand what colors make sense.
The goal? Less guessing, fewer samples and a lot more confidence before gallons of paint go on your home.
206-page PDF – Digital Download
$44.95Exterior Trim Paint Colors
This isn’t a list of ‘the best trim colors’, although you’ll get a ton of links to great shades!
You’ll learn how to look at your home and understand whether it needs contrast, repetition, connection, or a little visual peacekeeping to pull it all together.
Because trim might seem like a small detail…but spread it around all four sides of your home on multiple surfaces and it suddenly has a pretty big job.
118-page PDF – Instant Download
$24.95
Comments
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Hi Kylie, love your blog! I was wondering if you’ll do a color review for Serenely from SW’s new designer collection? I’m thinking of using it in an east-facing room. Also, are those colors first available in April? Thanks!
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Hi Lauren, you BET I will, thank you for the recommendation! And as far as I know, they’re available now, but some stores perhaps haven’t rolled them out yet?
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