Please read -

http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/

Since the upper level hasn't enough room for properly sized shutters, now is the time to consider other options for the window trim.

The existing shutters are fasten to the side of the house not hung, so they can't function, even though they look to be the right size. Still I think you should remove the shutters, although you might think it looks bare at first.

Black windows will look just fine with white trim. There are plenty of examples on Houzz. Are you redoing the siding or just painting?

Of course there are also many examples with black trim. I prefer white trim.

Black windows IMO look best with no shutters

@houssaon we are thinking about residing right now they are 4 inch clapboards but I am thinking g about doing 5 inch ones or shingles.

I know it isn't the acutal OP question, but the comments on the shutters is interesting. I see the 2 windows to the right that do not have shutters and like that the windows appear more elongated (as they are) than the windows with the decorative only shutters. I agree that the whole look would be better without, albeit initially feeling naked as was mentioned above.

That said, there is a house near me that I find quite striking with the black windows, no shutters, and a bright, tangerine/orange door. Always catches my eye. I might consider it myself, but agree it could feel risky. Good luck, hope to see the update!

Black windows and black shutters would make your windows feel larger. Right now the black shutters cramp the white windows.

Black windows and black shutters would make your windows feel larger. Right now the black shutters cramp the white windows.

Black windows and black shutters would make your windows feel larger. Right now the black shutters cramp the white windows.

Black windows and black shutters would make your windows feel larger. Right now the black shutters cramp the white windows.

Black windows and black shutters would make your windows feel larger. Right now the black shutters cramp the white windows.

Beverly’s pic is very helpful. I like no black windows and no shutters. Maybe a pretty color on the door, not too light

Beverly‘s picture is really helpful. I had not really thought of no shutters until I started seeing all of these comments, but I like the way the rendering looks with the windows with the 4 panes. Are the longer windows in the rendering both top and bottom? On our ground floor the sills are 33 inches from ground and on top floor they are about 36. So would you lengthen both? I just showed my husband the photo and he said he still wants shutters. If the trim around the windows was reduced in size so they don’t look as square are there any shutters that would look okay? Or is it just that black windows and shutters don’t really work well together at all?

It seems to me that you can have black frame windows or shutters with white framed windows. One or the other but not both. I have to say that I don't think I have ever seen black framed windows with shutters.

Here is a home with white frames and some shutters

More black frames and no shutters.

Maybe do something more typical like this. Gray siding, white windows, and dark gray shutters.

Easy way of doing this in real life......... I assume that you have the same kind of windows on the back of your house. Paint one of the windows and its muntins BLACK. How do you like it? Then, paint its shutters black. Hang them. How does it look? (If you don’t have any shutters on the back of your home, perhaps you should see that as a sign that they aren’t needed???). Anyway....experiment, is all that I am saying. And, if you have the kind of windows that have removable muntins, then make some with different configurations, like two over two, as many have posted here. And see if you like those. There is virtual reality. And then there is reality. I prefer the latter. And I often do things like this! Good luck!

good for you for realizing that painting window sashes black doesnt make your windows statuesque, only black. i think black windows on your honorable colonial house wouldnt look right and in fact call attention to what your house is not.

I would make the upstairs windows the same size as the downstairs ones.

Hi all. We have been thinking a great deal about this recently. We are going to lengthen the upstairs windows so they are now the same length as downstairs. Right now they are 4 inches shorter. Do you think we should make the upstairs windows narrower as well? We didn't realize it before but they are also 5 inches wider. Or would that be very complicated to do? We are going to do black exterior windows now and are now deciding between either a 2/2 or 6/6 grill pattern. We are also going to straighten the trim on the garage doors.

I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts on the window size. Thanks so much!!

What did you end up doing???! Pics!