Sherwin Williams Rookwood Clay: A Complete Color Review

Looking for the perfect muted rust paint color for your home? Let’s talk about Sherwin Williams Rookwood Clay and if it might be right for your home!

Warm neutrals invoke some of the best feelings: cozy, welcoming, organic, earthy, familiar. They can feel like a warm hug while still adding a subtle nod to sophistication.

These warm hues are a great option if you're looking for a way to add some color without going too bold, if you want neutral but a little something.

Rookwood Clay by Sherwin Williams is a muted rust. It's technically a yellow but feels very brown. Let's dive into the details and see if this shade is right for your home.

Rookwood Clay, Sherwin Williams, SW 2823

Rookwood Clay is a muted rust with soft, warm undertones. It provides an inviting, timeless vibe.

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Rookwood Clay

Color Family

Rookwood Clay is in the yellow family.

Light Reflectance Value

23

Light Reflective Value is the measurement of how much light a color bounces around. This is on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being pure black and 100 being pure white.

With an LRV of 23, Rookwood Clay is on the darker side of mid-range. It won’t reflect a ton of light, so it works best in spaces that already have natural or layered lighting.

RGB Colors

R: 154 G: 126 B: 100

RGB describes the amount of each color - red, green, and blue - present in a color. This is on a scale of 0 to 255 for each color. This is basically the color mix to make the color!

Hex Code

#9A7E64

Undertones

Rookwood Clay is a muted rust with soft red and brown undertones.

 In south-facing rooms with lots of natural light, Studio Clay will appear warmer, lighter, and lean a bit more yellow-brown.

In north-facing rooms that lack natural light, Studio Clay will appear less warm, darker, and lean more brown / clay-colored.

Best uses

You can use Rookwood Clay almost anywhere. It feels inviting without being loud, which makes it great for rooms where you want to unwind. I’d try it in:

• Living rooms, bedrooms, or dens where you want a cozy, organic feel
• Accent wall
• A focal point, such as a fireplace or built-ins
• Home exterior
• Interior or exterior doors
• Cabinets
• Furniture

Similar Colors

Looking for close matches? These have a similar vibe:

• Sherwin Williams Iced Mocha
• Benjamin Moore Edgewood Rocks
• Behr Westminster
• Sherwin Williams Meadowlark
• Benjamin Moore Caramel Apple
• Behr New Chestnut
• Sherwin Williams Mudslide

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Rookwood Clay

Coordinating Colors

As a warm neutral, Rookwood Clay pairs well with a variety of other colors. It pairs well with other warm colors, such as soft whites, tans, grays, browns, blacks, and reds.

For more contrast, pair Rookwood Clay with blues, greens, and purples.

Muddy oranges / browns:

• Wheat Penny
• Toasty
• Antiquarian Brown
• Brandywine
• Decorous Amber

Warm beiges / khakis:

• Fresco Cream
• Maison Blanche
• Sand Dollar
• Kilim Beige
• Colony Buff

Deep blues:

• Sea Mariner
• Naval
• Anchors Aweigh
• In the Navy
• Salty Dog

Trim Colors

As a warm neutral, Rookwood Clays pairs well with soft, creamy whites.

Soft white trim colors:

• Sherwin Williams Alabaster
• Benjamin Moore White Dove
• Behr Cameo White

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Rookwood Clay

FAQS

Here are some frequently asked questions about Rookwood Clay.

Is Rookwood Clay orange or brown?

Neither! Rookwood Clay is a muted rust with soft red and brown undertones. It falls in Sherwin Williams' yellow color family.

This gorgeous color will lean warmer / more brown-yellow in brighter spaces and more neutral / brown in darker spaces. Give it a swatch in your home and see what you think!

What color trim with Rookwood Clay?

Rookwood Clays pairs well with soft, creamy whites. I love it with Behr Cameo White, SW Alabaster, or BM White Dove.

What is the undertone of Sherwin Williams Rookwood Clay?

Sherwin Williams Rookwood Clay has soft red and brown undertones. It's a gorgeous muted rust color. Give it a swatch in your home and see if it's right for your space.

Is Rookwood Clay good for a bedroom?

Yes, Rookwood Clay is good for a bedroom! As a dark, warm neutral, Rookwood Clay feels inviting and comforting without being bold. It's great for a room where you want to relax.

What colors go with Rookwood Clay?

Rookwood Clays looks great with other warm colors: soft whites, tans, grays, browns, blacks, and reds. Try it with Wheat Penny, Fresco Cream, or Alabaster.

For more color, pair Rookwood Clay with blues, greens, and purples. I love it with Sea Mariner.

What's the difference: SW Rookwood Clay vs Iced Mocha?

Rookwood Clay and Iced Mocha are similar dark, warm neutrals.

However, Rookwood Clay is more yellow and slightly darker and deeper. Iced Mocha is more orange / red and a bit lighter.

These two are pretty similar, so it's helpful to swatch them side by side. Then you can see which one feels right in your space.

Thanks for reading!