Choosing Window Frame Colours for Your Home
Today the ODC team walks you through considerations and tips for choosing window frame colours for your home. Anthracite grey windows continue to be incredibly popular with clients undertaking replacement, extension and renovation projects while many architects are choosing black windows to complement their contemporary new build designs.
So why are black, grey and white windows so popular?
Black, grey and white frames all harmonise easily with many exterior finishes and roof materials, and that’s why they are the standard colours offered by window manufacturers like ourselves. But selecting the frame colour for your windows and doors is very much about personal style and preference, and your home’s architecture may help you with your decision-making:
Traditional: Period homes often have distinctive colour palettes for window frames; glossy primary colours and varnished wood are common.
Modern: Contemporary homes finished in timber cladding, stone or white render tend to have bold and contrasting black windows or Anthracite grey frames.
Coastal properties: painted timber cladding and a more relaxed, beachy vibe can mean windows in soft pastel colours work beautifully.
Rural homes: In cottage or country houses, traditional white windows are often the most popular, complementing local brick and natural stone or painted plaster exteriors.
Anthracite Grey Windows
This extension has Anthracite Grey sliding doors, a versatile colour chosen to complement the property’s existing window frames.
Why choose Anthracite Grey frames?
Contemporary looks: Anthracite Grey windows deliver a sleek, modern, and sophisticated appearance. Anthracite grey is a deep muted colour that adds substance to the exterior of a home. This colour complements contemporary architectural styles and can also give older homes a more updated look.
Versatility: Anthracite Grey is a highly versatile colour that pairs well with a wide range of exterior palettes. Whether your home’s render is white, cream, or even painted a traditional pale pink, Anthracite Grey windows will create a harmonious and complementary contrast.
Enduring: While Anthracite Grey windows are an on-trend choice, they do possess a timeless quality. Unlike some colours that may quickly go out of style, this shade of grey has proven to be enduring over the last decade.
Low maintenance: Darker colours like Anthracite Grey tend to hide dirt and dust better than lighter shades.
Energy efficiency: Darker colours can absorb more heat from the sun, which can be beneficial in colder climates by aiding passive solar heating.
Resale value: Anthracite Grey is considered a neutral colour for windows, making it an attractive option for potential homebuyers. It can enhance your home’s kerb appeal and its resale value.
Black Windows
An extension on a period London home features black aluminium windows and doors with added glazing bars.
Why choose black frames?
Elegant contrast: Black window frames create a stunning contrast against light-coloured exteriors, making them a popular choice in modern and contemporary designs. This contrast adds depth and drama to your home’s appearance.
Timeless appeal: Black windows are classic. They seamlessly blend with various architectural styles, from traditional to industrial, giving your home a timeless and sophisticated look.
Enhanced views: Black frames for windows can frame outdoor views beautifully. They act like a picture frame, drawing attention to the scenery outside and making it feel like a work of art.
Dramatic interior: Inside your home, black window frames can serve as elegant focal points. They can add drama and a touch of luxury to your interior design.
Low maintenance: Black frames tend to hide dirt and dust better than lighter colours, reducing the frequency of cleaning and maintenance.
White Windows
An extension for South Coast home has white windows and doors to match the property’s original New England design.
Why choose white frames?
Versatility: White is one of the most versatile window frame colours. It complements a wide range of architectural styles and exterior colour palettes.
A fresh look: Like black, white windows never go out of style. They offer a clean, fresh look that can make your home appear more open and welcoming.
Light and airy: White frames reflect more sunlight, which can make your interior spaces feel brighter and more open, especially in smaller rooms or homes with limited natural light.
Cooler interior: White frames absorb less heat than darker colours, helping to keep your home cooler on sunny days.
Design flexibility: White frames serve as a neutral backdrop, allowing you to experiment with various interior design elements without worrying about clashing colours.
Reasons to go bold with your door and window frame colour
This artist’s house celebrates colour everywhere: sliding doors with bespoke green frames reflect her much-loved garden.
Why choose a bespoke window frame colour?
Visual impact: Brightly coloured window frames can create a striking visual statement. It’s a creative choice that can add vibrancy and character to your home.
Contrast and emphasis: Bright window frames can contrast with the building’s exterior wall colour, emphasizing the openings and creating a dynamic visual composition. This contrast can enhance the overall design by adding depth and interest to the facade.
Individuality: Window frames in more unusual colours can add an element of playfulness and creativity to a building’s design. They can break away from the conventional and inject a sense of fun into the architecture.
Daylight and interior ambience: Window frames in certain colours can affect the quality of natural light entering a building. The colour can influence the ambience of interior spaces and enhance the overall design.
Cultural significance: Some colours can hold cultural or symbolic significance. Architects may use colours that have cultural relevance or convey belonging to a community.
How to choose the best window frame colour for your project
This award-winning home in North London has aluminium grey windows and doors finished in a bespoke shade: Umbra Grey (RAL 7022) It’s a subtle warm grey-brown, designed to harmonise with the warm brickwork and black charred wood uprights that give the front facade an eye-catching individuality.
Personal Colour Preferences
Your personal taste and style preferences should play a significant role in your decision. After all, you want your home to reflect your personality and make you feel comfortable. If you have a favourite colour or a specific ambience in mind, don’t hesitate to incorporate it into your window frame choice.
Colour frames and levels of maintenance
Consider the level of maintenance required for different frame colours. Dark-coloured frames may show less dirt and require less frequent cleaning compared to lighter frames, which can show up debris more easily. Factor in the time and effort for maintenance when making your decision.
Window frame colour and planning permission
If your home is a listed building or positioned in a conservation area, you are likely to need to apply for planning permission to change the colour of your windows or doors. Your architect can advise early in the planning stages.
First steps to deciding your window and door frame colour
- Source a sample. It’s a good idea to obtain samples of the frame colours you’re considering. Test them in different lighting conditions, both inside and outside your home. This will help you visualize how the colours will look in your specific environment.
- Talk to your architectural glazing specialist. They have wide experience of colour and context and will be able to share examples of projects where choices have worked successfully.
Explore our Inspiration Gallery or Projects pages to see more examples of window frame colours to suit your project. With over 200 inspiring colours in our RAL chart, ODC aluminium sliding doors can be finished in an exceptionally tough, high quality, flawless powder colour coating of your choice. When you want outer frames to match your home’s exterior look and another to complement interior décor, then a dual colour finish frame is your solution.
