Best Colours for uPVC Windows in 2026

Anthracite grey has dominated UK uPVC for five years and shows no signs of giving up its crown. But the field behind it is shifting fast — sage greens are climbing, true blacks are back, and pure white is finally in decline. Here are the 8 colours we are spraying most on Plymouth uPVC in 2026.

1. RAL 7016 — Anthracite Grey

Still our most-requested uPVC colour. Modern, sophisticated, looks great on every property style from a Plymouth terrace to a coastal new-build. Pairs with white render, painted brick or natural stone. Around 45% of our 2026 jobs are RAL 7016.

2. RAL 9005 — Jet Black

True black uPVC is having a moment. Architectural, dramatic, very on-trend in 2026. Best on render houses or modern extensions where the windows are a deliberate feature. Slightly more demanding on UV — we double-up the topcoat film build.

3. Sage Green — RAL 6021 or custom mix

Soft greyed-green. Quietly rising fast. We've sprayed 12 sage uPVC jobs in the last 12 months — up from zero two years ago. Works beautifully on cottages, period properties and rural homes. Surprisingly elegant on a modern detached too.

4. RAL 7022 — Umbra Grey

A warmer brown-grey alternative to anthracite. Less harsh, more "stone". Good for traditional Plymouth stone or brick houses where 7016 looks too cold.

5. RAL 7012 — Basalt Grey

Mid-grey with a slight green undertone. The "I want grey but not anthracite" shade. Pairs really well with sage or pale walls.

6. Cream / RAL 9001 — Cream White

Not the dingy old uPVC cream — a deliberate warm-white. The "warm white" shift that's happening in interior paint is happening on exteriors too. Lovely on traditional cottages.

7. RAL 8019 / 8022 — Deep Brown / Black-Brown

Especially good on stone or render houses with a Georgian or Victorian look. Dark but warmer than 9005.

8. Heritage Green — RAL 6009 Fir Green

Saturated dark green. The "front door colour" of 2024 has crept across to full window sets. Best on traditional houses, listed-style sash window uPVC, or properties with a heritage aspect.

Colours we are spraying less of in 2026

• Bright white (RAL 9010) — being replaced by warm whites and creams
• Rosewood / oak woodgrain finishes — feels dated
• Cherry red uPVC doors — peaked in 2018
• Pale duck-egg blue — has faded compared to deeper navy and teal

Two-tone uPVC — front-of-house in 2026

About 25% of our 2026 uPVC jobs are two-tone — typically one colour on the windows, a contrasting colour on the front door. Popular pairings:

• Anthracite windows + jet-black door
• White windows + sage door
• Cream windows + heritage green door
• Black windows + dark navy door
• Sage windows + cream door (rural / cottage look)

Will dark colours overheat my windows?

Modern uPVC-grade paints contain heat-reflective pigments. Anthracite, black and deep brown are all heat-stable on standard uPVC. We don't recommend pure black on very large south-facing patio doors without checking the frame thickness — but it's almost never a real issue on a typical home.

How to choose for your home

1. Look at the wall colour. Cool greys (RAL 7016, 7012) pair with cool walls. Warmer browns and sage pair with stone, render and brick.
2. Look at the roof. Slate roofs love anthracite. Red-tile roofs look better with cream or warm-grey.
3. Look at the neighbours. Not to copy them — but to avoid clashing. A whole street of black-and-white houses with one pink one tends to be regretted.
4. Look at the door. If your front door is staying, pick a uPVC colour that flatters it.
5. Look at fixed elements. Brick colour, stone, gutters, gates — these are staying. The uPVC paint should harmonise.

Sample boards

We can bring two or three A4-sized sample boards of your shortlist colours to the home visit. You can hold them against the window frame, in different light conditions, before committing. No charge, no obligation.

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