Grey vs white windows

[IdrisElbow]

I'm in the middle of a massive house renovation which includes all new windows and doors. We decided, after a huge amount of back and forth, to go with white windows and white sliding doors, with a brightly coloured front door. The house will be rendered white and has slate effect tiles. I'm planning to 'dress' the exterior of the house with lovely foliage (think grasses and colourful flowers).

But literally EVERY account I look at on Instagram has dark grey windows. Have we made a huge error? Is our lovely newly renovated house just boring? I'm having major window panic now. Has anyone else gone with white instead of grey?

[Risotto4tea]

I keep seeing houses with Grey windows and doors its the new fashion. Personally I think they will date, out neighbour has brown PVC that now looks quite dated. I had an action recently and went with white otherwise I would have to replace all the others on the main bit of the house which were all in good condition but slightly older

[Baxdream]

No no no you have made the absolute right decision!
We had a similar predicament 3 years ago and went with white windows and chalk hill render. It looks amazing.
Personally I'm so bored of grey. It would put me off a house!

[Risotto4tea]

Extention* not action

[JoJoSM2]

Unless it’s some modernist house that suits grey windows, go with white. Personally, I think they look awful and are the brown windows of the future.

[BluebellsGreenbells]

I’ve just painted ours black.

There are some companies offering this service and nearly all of them are going for dark colours.

I think white will look old fashioned but grey will soon be outdated!

No help!! Sorry!!

[ritzbiscuits]

Yes totally agree with PP, the grey trend will date, just like the previous brown window trend. 100% right going for white.

[MissConductUS]

I think white is the far safer choice.

[IdrisElbow]

@Baxdream

No no no you have made the absolute right decision!
We had a similar predicament 3 years ago and went with white windows and chalk hill render. It looks amazing.
Personally I'm so bored of grey. It would put me off a house!

That sounds lovely! I have just looked up 'chalk hill' and it looks like a gorgeous colour. Phew feeling a bit calmer about it 😬

It's not that I necessarily dislike the dark grey look, though I think it looks best in ultra slim aluminium frames which our budget definitely doesn't stretch to! @JoJoSM2 I agree about the brown windows thing, that played a big part in our decision.

[IdrisElbow]

@MissConductUS

I think white is the far safer choice.

This is my worry.. have we gone for the safe choice

[HasaDigaEebowai]

I'm actually about to paint the windows on our guest house a very pale grey (because they are very old and look dingy next to the white render) but in general white is best IMO. We had bifold doors fitted last year and the fitters told us that the black and grey ones apparently have more problems due to heat retention causing warping.

[MissConductUS]

This is my worry.. have we gone for the safe choice

I think it's a safe choice because it's bright and attractive. We had white windows in our last house and dark grey metal framed ones in our current house. The white windows added a lot more to the look of the house.

[42daystogo]

Im jumping on the band wagon here, what colour of windows would you choose for this style of house as im having the same dilemma, lots of whites, light greys, dark greys and black windows in the street.

[CherryMaple]

@42daystogo I would say white.

[IdrisElbow]

@42daystogo beautiful house! What colour are your neighbours' windows? Are they brown or black?

Have you seen the agate grey windows? They are a light greeny/grey colour. I think they are nice but I also think white is lovely, clean and crisp.

[IdrisElbow]

@MissConductUS

This is my worry.. have we gone for the safe choice

I think it's a safe choice because it's bright and attractive. We had white windows in our last house and dark grey metal framed ones in our current house. The white windows added a lot more to the look of the house.

Thanks @MissConductUS that's good to know

[thetrees]

Dark grey windows will date very quickly, I think they're quite ugly

@42daystogo a house near me has a putty pink colour that looks absolutely lovely. Otherwise pps suggestion of a slate green is good

[Permanentlypuzzled]

Grey windows look as though they have had the undercoat applied and waiting for topcoat.

[Mamette]

We replaced windows and went for white. I’m too contrary to follow a trend even though I quite like the look of the grey.

[LST]

We've recently moved into a house with light brown windows and doors and thought how lovely they looked. I aren't much for grey but I do like a sage green door

[MsLumley]

This thread is making me feel much better. So many houses in our road have changed their white windows to grey and I was thinking we should do the same. I thought everyone loved them, apparently not! That's just saved me a few grand, thanks lovely mumsnetters!

[42daystogo]

[quote IdrisElbow]@42daystogo beautiful house! What colour are your neighbours' windows? Are they brown or black?

Have you seen the agate grey windows? They are a light greeny/grey colour. I think they are nice but I also think white is lovely, clean and crisp.[/quote]

Next door have black and down the street are dark grey and they do look lovely but i am also worried about them dating. I will look up the greeny/grey colour too thanks

[Saz12]

White looks crisp and smart, and you can go for colourful front door or trim or whatever. Or grey door etc.
In 10 years time they’ll seem very old fashioned and windows should last longer than that.

[Bluesheep8]

I like grey windows on old stone houses but not new brick ones.

[EmilySpinach]

@Mamette

We replaced windows and went for white. I’m too contrary to follow a trend even though I quite like the look of the grey.

This might be the most honest post I’ve ever seen on property & diy! Thank you

[PragmaticWench]

We're just replacing all our windows and adding new to an extension and have gone with white. I decided white gives us a much wider choice of render colour and front door colour.

Dark grey look good on some styles of building but most people seem to have whacked them in because they're fashionable, and they don't suit the house. Light grey, sage green, plaster pink or beige can all look great but again, it depends on the age of the property and if it's brick/render/cladding etc.