How to Paint Windows Black (video)
May 20, 2015
It wasn’t even negotiable. I knew the windows in the #staggreno had to be black.
Pretty much the entire design for the house stemmed from that decision. In a previous post, I shared the drama rama with getting black windows and gave you the different options as well as pros and cons. Ya’ll, it’s not easy and if it is easy, it’s realllllly expensive. After a whole lotta research, we settled on fiberglass windows because they were available in black exterior, they would take black paint on the interior better than vinyl, and they were fairly cost effective. (I know some people are confident painting vinyl, but after weighing all of our options, we didn’t feel good about vinyl’s longevity after painting.)
Even with fiberglass, we had a whole slew of concerns. The picture windows were easy peasy– no opening or closing. The sliders were another story. Just think about all of the different pieces and parts sliding across each other. There are a lot of opportunities for paint to scratch or rub off. So, how does one paint interior windows black, you ask? Here is a set-by-step breakdown of how to paint windows black, in video form, naturally.
Video/Editing: James Young
One thing: we did not paint the bathroom windows black, but did paint every other window. We did this for two reasons: first, we were a little worried about the tile around the window but mostly, it was for moisture reasons as two of the three bathroom windows are in showers. It probably would have been fine, but we didn’t want to chance it.
In case you didn’t catch the type of primer and paint we used:
Primer: XIM 400 bonding primer
Paint: Sherwin Williams Solo Ultra paint
I’m beyond thrilled with how they turned out. They really do set the tone for the rest of the home’s design.
So what do you think? Dare to go black?
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We're a full-service design firm and home furnishings shop built around the philosophy that a well-designed home should be beautiful, personal, cohesive, and complete. We think home is the most important place on the planet and when you live in a home that is perfectly you, it changes your life. Don't believe us? Stick around. We're confident we'll change your mind.
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YES! I’ve been doing the same thing in my house. I didn’t know about that Sherwin Williams paint though. Thankfully none of my windows are the sliding kind, they just crank open. I haven’t done my kitchen sliding door yet though so I’m going to get that recommended paint for it!
Looking good at the stag reno!
Thank you so much for following along!
[…] pencil skirt. 8 ||My talented friend Jen is transforming her house and I’m enjoying every detail. 9 || Learn how to frost a cake. […]
How is the paint holding up?
It’s holding up great! We love it!
Jen, Your house looks beautiful!! We are currently in the process of building our first home and also love the mid century modern look. We are deciding on windows and naturally i’m drawn to the black when i see it on pictures over the white. we are planning to have white in the bedrooms and bathroom but the living and dinning windows we are thinking going with black very similar to what you have. our exterior windows will be black. Have you had an regrets with going with black in the interior?? You had white in your other home which do you like better now having both? We need to make decision asap.also we are going with Anderson 100 series are they very much thicker than the ones you went with? also how is the maintenance with keeping the black windows looking clean is dust seen easily are you having to clean them more often than you did white? Hope to hear from you!
Hello! We love our black windows and have no regrets! We haven’t had any problems with upkeep at all. It’s all in how you paint them, in my opinion. Worth taking the extra time for drying, and the right products!