Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom Paint Color Review

If trendy black paint colors feel scary and kinda intimidating, you can dial it back but still go bold with a gorgeous, moody shade like Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom.

SW Rock Bottom is a bit under-appreciated compared to its more popular relative SW Iron Ore; it has just as much personality and appeal yet isn't used as often.

Ready to step out of your comfort zone? Let's explore what Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom can add to your home.

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What Color Is Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom?

Although I include Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom in my collection of Best Black Paint Colors, technically it's not black at all. Rock Bottom paint is a deep, cool green-gray which can look intriguing in a variety of settings: exterior siding and trim, doors and windows, and cabinets and builtins. If you're looking for a major transformation, this paint will definitely deliver. SW Rock Bottom also works with a wide range of styles, especially modern and contemporary.

SW Rock Bottom undertones

Like many mixed neutral paint colors, Sherwin-Williams Rock Bottom can be a chameleon. It can either be defined as a rich charcoal gray with mossy green undertones - or as a deep moody green with gray undertones.

Either way, how SW Rock Bottom will appear on your walls, inside and out, depends a lot on your lighting (more about that in the next section).

Rock Bottom Sherwin Williams LRV

There's no getting around it. With an LRV of 7, Rock Bottom paint color is as dark as as many of the black paint colors I've reviewed, and it will not reflect light.

In dim or low lighting, SW Rock Bottom can appear black but it's not as saturated as a true black like SW Tricorn Black. SW Rock Bottom can also change throughout the day in the same room: Morning or afternoon sun in a room will bring out the green cast in the paint, but it morphs into its gray side when the sun moves overhead or sets.

The lighting issue is one reason I recommend testing Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom on your walls before making a paint decision, and Samplize makes it so easy.

The Best Way To Test Paint Colors On Your Walls

No need to buy paint samples and paint big squares of each color on your walls! Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples from all major paint brands delivered to your door so you can put them up on the wall with no mess.

Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom Vs Other Dark Paint Colors

Let's see how Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom stacks up against a few other popular dark paint colors.

Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom vs Iron Ore

Sherwin Williams Iron Ore leans into its warmth more than cool Rock Bottom, and side by side those foresty green tones of Rock Bottom really stand out. SW Iron Ore does have a dab of green but it's more subtle and less noticeable. Both colors boast a heavy dose of charcoal gray; however SW Rock Bottom's strong green makes it admittedly a less versatile choice than Iron Ore when it comes to pairing up with other colors and design elements.

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SW Rock Bottom vs Urbane Bronze

Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze is also included in my Best Black Paint Colors list and like Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom, it's not a true black. SW Urbane Bronze is an earthy blend of brown and gray with a hint of green. Next to it, SW Rock Bottom looks quite charcoal-y and is clearly darker and more urban. Both shades have gorgeous deep tones perfect for sophistication (Rock Bottom) and coziness (Urbane Bronze).

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SW Rock Bottom vs Greenblack

These two paint colors have green undertones that work particularly well on home exteriors surrounded by lush landscaping. SW Greenblack is in the deeper end of the black paint color pool while SW Rock Bottom is just sticking its toes in, thank you. Sherwin Williams Greenblack is more straightforward and its undertones are less nuanced. SW Rock Bottom is a perfect choice if you love the shifting chameleon-like color changes throughout the day.

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Examples Of Sherwin Williams Rock Bottom In Real Homes

Let's take a look at how SW Rock Bottom behaves itself in a variety of exterior and interior real home photos.

Sherwin-Williams Rock Bottom exterior siding

Rock Bottom paint looks especially appealing in natural, woodsy settings on modern farmhouse and rustic chalet style homes.

The first home pairs SW Rock Bottom on the siding with popular Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black on the window casings and front door for a dramatic exterior statement. On the other home, SW Rock Bottom vertical siding joins with the elongated windows to create an illusion of soaring height.

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Rock Bottom Sherwin Williams exterior trim

In this inviting modern farmhouse style home, SW Rock Bottom as a trim forms a striking contrast against the lighter hues of Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist white.

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Rock Bottom Sherwin Williams cabinets

Rock Bottom and cabinets were made for each other, and these photos are a perfect illustration of Rock Bottom's ability to shade shift depending on the lighting.

Mossy green is the predominant tone is the cabinet and shelves built-ins in this cozy study designed by Orchid House Interiors.

Meanwhile in these kitchens, charcoal gray takes the lead. Notice how SW Rock Bottom enjoys a nice matchup with woodsy elements like flooring, furniture, and the kitchen island and range hood.

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Rock Bottom SW walls

You wouldn't think a dark moody-toned color like Rock Bottom SW would look amazing on walls. Black accent walls are a very popular and legitimate choice if you're reluctant to commit to full-on all black walls. Rock Bottom by Sherwin Williams works beautifully as shown below if you're ready to go all the way with a bold but classic statement.

When going bold, offset the dark walls with plenty of light neutrals in your other design elements - furniture, flooring, decor, etc. (I'm crushing on that mid-century modern wood ceiling!) When done properly, all black walls can produce an amazing result.

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SW Rock Bottom ceiling

Speaking of ceilings, level up your design game by choosing a dark neutral ceiling paint instead of the traditional white or light neutral. Rock Bottom SW 7062 on the ceiling is joined with SW Greek Villa wall paint and organic wood, creating a diverse mix of color, contrast, and textures. The ceiling also creates visual separation by designating the dining room as its own space.

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Sherwin-Williams Rock Bottom Coordinating Colors

You've probably noticed from the sample photos that Rock Bottom loves to pair up with earthy elements like rock and wood. For a classic and timeless pairing, match SW Rock Bottom with lighter cool green-grays, deeper blacks, or warm whites. Suggestions below:

• SW Tricorn Black
• SW Drift of Mist
• SW Greek Villa
• SW Reserved White
• SW Oyster Bay
• SW Silver Strand

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