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Window Color: How to Choose it Effectively?

How to Choose the Best Window Color for your Home?

To choose the best window color for your home, match the frame color with your exterior and interior design tones, consider your architectural style, evaluate lighting effects, and prioritize durability with low-maintenance finishes.

Choose a window frame color that matches your home’s undertone and your desired contrast level: keep the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) within 0–10 points of your wall color for a blended look, or 20–40 LRV points apart for a crisp, high-contrast finish always test large samples in daylight before deciding.

If you’re looking for window color and UPVC window installers, be sure to contact our team. We’ll guide you to what suits you best.

Guide To Choose the Best Window Color for Your Home

Identify your base and undertone 

List the fixed elements you aren’t changing (roof, brick/stone, siding, fascia). Decide if they skew warm (beige, tan, brown, warm red) or cool (gray, blue, slate, cool white). You’ll get the most harmony if your window color shares that undertone.

Pick your contrast target using LRV

LRV runs from 0 (black) to 100 (white). 

Blended look: choose a frame color within 0–10 LRV points of the wall/siding. 

Balanced contrast: 10–20 LRV points difference. 

Bold contrast: 20–40 LRV points difference (e.g., charcoal frames on light siding). 

This single rule lets you control how much the windows stand out.

Match color families by undertone

Warm facades: bronze, espresso, warm black, and deep taupe. 

Cool facades: charcoal, graphite, true black, and cool white. 

Traditional brick: bronze, deep green, off -black (keeps depth without feeling harsh). 

Light coastal/pastel homes: soft white (LRV 70–85) for airy, clean edges.

Consider climate, sun, and material 

Dark frames absorb more heat and show dust more; on uPVC/vinyl, use factory colors approved by the manufacturer (painting can void warranties). For hot, west-facing elevations, you’ll maintain finish longer with mid-tones (LRV 30–60) or light colors. Aluminum or fiberglass tolerates dark colors better.

Align Inside and Out

If your interior trim is white, you can keep white frames inside and choose a different exterior color (many systems allow split finishes). If your interior trim is wood/colored, matching the frame to that trim keeps rooms cohesive. 

Choose the right sheen (if painting wood) 

Use exterior satin/semi-gloss; it sheds dirt and highlights profiles without glare. (Factory-finished frames already use durable coatings match, don’t mix, sheens on replacements.) 

Test properly before you commit 

Order real samples or make boards at least A4 size, place them next to siding/brick, and review at morning, noon, and late afternoon from the street. Confirm your LRV gap meets your target.

Quick, proven picks (with LRV guidance):

Charcoal/Black (LRV 4–10): sharp outline on light or mid façades (bold contrast). 

Bronze/Deep Taupe (LRV 12–30): classic with brick/stone (balanced contrast). 

Soft/True White (LRV 80–90): clean coastal or modern look (high reflectance). 

Greige/Medium Gray (LRV 40–60): forgiving, low-maintenance, timeless (balanced). 

Is Core Color Important for window?

Yes, the core color of a window frame is important because it affects the window’s durability, visible wear over time, and how well it maintains its appearance if the surface color chips or fades.

What that means for you (simple rules):

uPVC/vinyl: The core is usually white, brown, or grey under a foil/paint. If you pick a dark exterior (black/bronze/charcoal) with a white core, you’ll notice white lines at corner joints, sash reveals, drainage caps, and any scuffs. Ask for a color-matched (through-colored) core that’s black/brown/grey to the same family as your exterior. 

Aluminum (powder-coated): Core color is less critical quality powder coat wraps edges. Still ensure color-matched gaskets, beads, end caps. 

Fiberglass/composites/painted wood: Through-color or full paint wraps edges, so the core is usually a non-issue focus on factory finish quality. 

How to specify it (proven checks): 

Request a cut sample (100–150 mm) of the actual profile, not just a swatch. Open the sash and check miters, rebates, glazing beads, gaskets, caps for color match. 

If you want different inside/outside colors, order dual-finish frames and confirm which surfaces remain visible when the sash opens. 

In hot, west-facing exposures, prioritize factory-rated dark finishes; core color is secondary to finish durability but still choose a non-white core under dark exteriors. 

For maintenance, know that a matching core hides wear; if the core contrasts, keep touch-up pens handy. 

What Color of the Windows Inside is the Best Choice?

The best interior window color is typically white because it complements most interior styles, enhances natural light, and creates a clean, timeless look but your final choice should align with your room’s design, wall colors, and trim.

Follow our blog page for expert advice and knowledge about windows and doors.