If you lived in a Victorian semi....

[threestepsforward]

...and were going to paint the front a cream of some kind, what colour would you paint the windowsills? White?

I think they were traditionally black, but just seems too austere... And I don't like green

And I don't like magnolia! (for the front of the house)

The front door is pale hardwood...

I'm stuck!

Definitely not white, it will just make the cream look dark and grubby. Cream and ruby red works well, or a darker coffee colour. Possibly blue, but go for a powdery or navy blue rather than royal.

Go to your local trade paint centre, they'll give you good advice and they usually stock better quality paints at cheaper prices than the diy stores.

There's a lovely blue by Dulux called Breton Blue (available from B & Q) that they can mix for you in masonry paint. A sort of light, powdery navy blue. That would look great.

Ooo I like the blue idea - thanks!
And I live by the sea so might be perfect...

Our block paving out the front is slate grey - what do you think about grey windowsills? Or would blue still be better?

Someone near us has grey sills and heads with White brickwork it looks really smart.

I hate whoever painted the windowsills at the back of our house I'd stick with a neutral like cream or white. Any other colour just looks bodged unless painted immaculately.

What have your neighbours (other semi) got? Would that not influence you?

Yikes, I'd completely forgotten I'd posted this thread, sorry

Neighbours either side have black sills and magnolia (not attached to us) and black sills and brickwork with a fake tudor beam affair (attached to us), and I'm not keen on harmonising with either!

I think with the block paving, a very pale powdery grey might be the way to go for the sills. At least they'll be easy to sort if they turn out horrid.

Agree that white would make the cream of the main house paint look grubby.

Thanks v much everyone

black paint used outdoors will not last so long as lighter colours, because it will get hot in the sun. This makes expand, leading to cracks and loss of adhesion, and it also accelerates aging.