If you’re asking yourself this question, the answer is no. While it’s true that they’ve gained popularity in recent years, you can rest assured that choosing black windows will not make your home look dated in a few years. “Sometimes that initial popularity is about ushering in a new standard,” said interior designer Carrie Valentine of Minnesota-based Charest Valentine Interiors.

A new standard is exactly right. Black windows are another tool for creating an up-to-date look, no matter if your home’s style is modern, traditional, or something in-between. While black windows might have been seen as a strictly modern look previously, the rise of transitional architecture, which mixes elements of traditional and modern styles, means there’s more flexibility in how black windows are used. Black windows can work on a farmhouse, a modern home, and many more styles!

Black interiors elevate windows and frame the landscape the way a mat frames a painting. Valentine, who recently built a country farmhouse for her own family, calls her black windows the “art of her home” because of the way they focus attention on a unique view in every room.

Here are a few ideas to get you started making the most of beautiful black windows:

• Pair black windows with light-colored walls and light-colored trim to create a dramatic contrast that really puts the focus on the landscape outside.
• Treat black windows like you would furnishings — pair them with décor and show them off — instead of hiding them behind expensive window treatments.
• Have your black windows installed without any surrounding trim. This is called a drywall return, and it creates a clean, modern look that really lets the window and the view it frames take centerstage.

While black windows tend to have a dramatic effect on the interior, on the exterior you can make choices to either draw attention to them or downplay them depending on your desired look. Before we dig in, there’s one thing you need to know: Technically, black is considered a neutral — not a color. This means black-framed windows will go with any exterior color you desire.

Here are two approaches to pairing black windows with an exterior color:

• Contrast: Pairing black windows with a light-colored exterior, like stucco or white wood siding, will make your windows pop. This turns the windows into focal points.
• Monochrome: If you want your windows to blend in, choose a dark exterior and trim. This makes a bold statement that turns the attention away from architectural details, like windows, and puts the focus on the entire home.

Black is a standard color option available within the A-Series, E-Series, 400 Series, and 100 Series lines. In most cases, ordering this color will not increase the price of your windows. However, there is an additional cost to selecting black within the 100 Series line due to the technology required.