Easy Black Window Hack | Tucker Designs

10/25/2021 29 Comments

Black Window Alternative

Do you love the look of black windows? I do but the price for them is outrageous so I have a great hack for you and it's really quite easy! Just trim your white windows with wide black trim, and there you go. You get the look of black windows without the added cost.

I used 5" all weather boards and painted them jet black with a semi gloss exterior paint. We used a brad nail gun to attach them to the siding. This is a great, inexpensive way to add curb appeal to your home.

I also added the black trim around the front door and garage door. This created a cohesive look to the entire exterior of our home.

As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.

I have a client who purchased black windows for his new house build. Before the house was even completed, the paint started peeling off his new windows. It was a nightmare. This can also happen if you decide to paint your existing white windows with black paint. So, be aware that could be a problem for you.

I now actually prefer this trim method over real black windows. If you decide to give this hack a try, send me pictures of your finished project!

I've had a lot of people ask for links to the boards. Click here for a link to the boards at Lowes.

Below is an extra little video with a bit more explanation of how I attached the trim.

I have a new YouTube channel, click the image below to check it. Be sure to subscribe and hit that notification bell if you want to see more!

Till next time!

29 Comments

Charlie

1/14/2022 10:57:55 pm

What a genius idea. Might just try it out on my house.

Kathy Sachetti

1/27/2022 07:16:57 pm

Beautiful job! What type of white board and batten siding did you use on the house with the black trim around the windows? I love the look!
Thank you

Debbie

4/3/2022 11:19:43 pm

Hi Kathy - we used a vinyl board and batten on our house. The black trim really added to the overall look.

Robin

7/2/2022 12:43:31 pm

Thank you for posting pictures of the black trim around your white windows! Looks really sharp snd this is the alternative I’d been thinking about.
So happy to find your pictures and details.

Debbie Tucker

9/8/2022 08:22:49 pm

Thank you Robin, I am very happy with the overall look.

Catherine Landerholm

8/3/2022 12:20:11 pm

I just had my house repainted white. I would really like to paint the trim around all the windows black to match the door and screen door.
I'd also like to paint the front porch deck black as well.
Do you think that would look good or too much.
My mom who has really good taste seems to have reservations about painting the trim black.
I don't want to take away from the 1914 home, but seems like it's missing something.
I also want to get a white railing around and a black wood porch swing at the left corner (there are brackets there so there must have been once upon a time. I have a picture I can share

Debbie Tucker

8/10/2022 07:14:56 am

Hi Catherine - can you share the picture with me?

Catherine Landerholm

8/10/2022 07:39:53 am

Not sure how to attach photo?

Debbie Tucker

8/11/2022 08:32:45 am

You can email it to me at [email protected].

Mathieu

8/21/2022 12:05:45 am

Hi! What boards are these? I’m not finding them on the Home Depot website

Thanks!

Debbie Tucker

9/22/2022 10:30:53 pm

Here is a link to the boards I used.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/AZEK-Actual-0-75-in-x-5-5-in-x-8-ft-Trim-Board-PVC-Board/1000511151

Good luck!

Anne

8/27/2022 04:24:22 pm

What weather boards and where did you purchase? Thank you so much

Debbie Tucker

9/22/2022 10:32:16 pm

Hi Anne - you can find the boards at this link:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/AZEK-Actual-0-75-in-x-5-5-in-x-8-ft-Trim-Board-PVC-Board/1000511151

Susan Kennedy

10/17/2022 10:44:36 am

This looks great. We are living in an all white, vinyl sided house. It looks like a big salt box. Once the weather warms up again, I am definitely doing exactly this!

Debbie Tucker

11/5/2022 04:26:29 pm

I'd love to see a before and after picture if you decide to add the trim!

Jane Butson

11/22/2022 04:07:32 pm

I love this look. We are building a house and would like your opinion to whether this look would still look as good with a red brick coloured siding?

Debbie Tucker

11/24/2022 08:46:39 pm

Yes I believe it would. Can you email a picture of your house to me? I’ll do a mock-up for you with the black trim.

Jesica

1/15/2023 10:24:11 am

I was curious as to why you didn’t paint the inner trim black and instead kept it what?

I’m planning to use black trim around my windows, but was cut about the original white trim on the windows.

Debbie

7/5/2023 09:27:54 pm

Hi Jessica - I didn’t want to paint my white windows. I’ve seen that fail too many times so I opted to paint the pvc trim boards instead. They have held up great, no peeling or fading in 3 years.

Kelley

3/26/2023 11:14:33 am

We built one yesterday, glued it overnight with xstong pic glue and it isn't working. How did you put it together?

Debbie Tucker

7/5/2023 09:28:47 pm

We nailed the boards directly to the siding around the windows.

Holly

5/5/2023 07:17:28 pm

I am so excited to do this to my house! What size of nails did you use? The boards seem pretty thick. Thanks!

Debbie Tucker

7/5/2023 09:29:23 pm

We used 2” nails.

Edmonton Front Door link

5/26/2023 03:17:49 am

The idea of using wide black trim to achieve the look of black windows is a brilliant and cost-effective solution. The author's suggestion of using 5" all-weather boards painted jet black with a semi-gloss exterior paint is a practical approach. The addition of black trim around the front and garage doors further enhances the cohesive appearance of the entire exterior. The cautionary note about the potential peeling of paint on actual black windows is valuable, as it highlights the advantage of this trim method. Overall, this hack offers an affordable way to add curb appeal to any home, and the author's willingness to share their experience and provide links to purchase the boards is commendable.

Debbie Tucker

7/5/2023 09:29:51 pm

Thank you!

Keri J link

7/4/2023 08:51:19 am

Hi there. We are researching board and batten vinyl siding to replace 30 year old (faded) gray vinyl siding on our house. I just wanted to ask your opinion of how you like the board and batten vinyl siding, and how it has held up since your had it installed. What are the pros and cons? (My husband wishes there was a b&b vinyl that was a wider size, he's not sure the smaller width will look right on our house)... Thanks for any guidance. I'm going to show him pics of your house, it's a similar shape to ours. ♥️

Debbie Tucker

7/5/2023 09:32:27 pm

Hi Keri - we have been very happy with the vinyl board and batten siding. It is very durable and easy to clean. Some people were shocked to discover it was vinyl siding.

I hope your project goes well, I’d love see pictures after you’re finished!

Valerie

7/12/2023 10:38:53 am

Thanks for the fantastic picture.

We took down our shutters to paint them black. I was surprised to see that the house looked better without them. It is an expanded bi-level ranch, so the elevation is a long flat rectangle. I assume that the picture window can be painted, but there are 4 sets of white windows that had the shutters. I do not want to replace them.

I thought that framing them in black might work, and was looking for a photograph. I love this! I like the black/white combo better than all black which tend to look like black holes. Also, I think that the black/white look is less trendy and will better stand the test of time.

Do you think that I should frame the all white garage doors too?

Mary Jo Clark

12/19/2023 12:07:24 pm

Hello,

My husband and I purchased a small house on a river that was already painted a medium dark blue with a grayish tint to it. How would this idea look on a darker house? I’m looking for the moody, woodsy look.

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Black Window Alternative

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