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When specifying window frame colors, white or neutral have long been the go-to choice and standard. Recently, however, a trend for darker colors to match or contrast exterior cladding colors has been on the rise, in part to make windows a focal point or feature of an architectural style for new construction and renovations. In the past, darker window frames were limited to painted wood, aluminum, aluminum-clad, or composite material frames due to the higher price point. Affordable, low-maintenance materials such as vinyl were limited to white and tan because of the colors’ low reflectivity and resistance to heat buildup from sun exposure. However, advances in vinyl pigments and new, thermal-resistant paints now provide architects with a wider array of dark-colored window material options that are more affordable. This course will explore the basic aesthetics and trends of dark colors and provide a detailed discussion of choosing available dark window styles.