I think I'd be inclined to leave that area white. To give the illusion that it's more a part of the window frame than the wall. Otherwise it will make them look smaller, as you mentioned.

I have windows like that. I painted mine the color of the wall in my kitchen, where I have only Roman shades. I left the casement area white in my dining room, though, because that window is covered, and that wall's painted a dark color.

I think you could go either way... if you have any other white in the room (blinds?) then white around the windows should look fine.

I tried to leave that part white -- it looked weird and I wound up painting the sills the wall color. Just be sure to tape the windows well so you don't get paint on the vinyl or aluminum trim pieces.

My painter told me that the walls without molding or window trim needs to be painted the wall color inside the windows so that is what I need and it looks nice.

I've seen that area left white because it reflects more light into the room.

Since they're covered with both blinds and drapes, it really doesn't matter, though. The white would reflect more light (and be easier). If the windows were actually visible, I think the bright white around the perimeter would actually accentuate their relatively small size.

I would paint it the same color as the wall. As squirrel pointed out, nobody is going to see it, anyway. But I think it would just bother me *knowing* it wasn't the same color as the wall. Strange, but true. :)

lllol, I'm with you, Organic. I could just ~feel~ it there ..... You just know! lol

I find it difficult to stop a line of paint at an outside corner, so continuing the painting to the inside would be easier for me.

That said, I would make my decision based on how it looked from outside. If wouldn't want the paint color visible from the outside - I would want to see only white.

Wall color for sure - otherwise it looks like the painter forgot because the blinds were down! LOL

I would paint them the wall color, unless you are having shutters installed. Once plantation shutters are installed its difficult to paint the small area. Mine were painted the wall color and they looked great with blinds or no blinds, but when we had shutters installed on some windows, I repainted the inner area white.

We have the same dilemma - Most houses we saw have it painted the same color as the walls but I ended up painted it glossy white. The glossy white makes it easier to clean and eventually when we put casing around the windows we won't have to go thru repainting it w/ white.

Well, this morning I decided to not paint the inset part and while I was painting the back wall and half of the left wall the unpainted white edges seemed to make sense. The sunlight bounced off the white sides more than it would if they were taupe plus you hardly noticed the white edges with the blinds open or closed. But after working all day at job #2 and coming home tonight, the white sides are not looking as good as they did this morning. The mistakes are showing up more too. So tomorrow morning I think I will paint the sides EK Taupe.

This pic of the Taupe is much lighter than it appears in person especially at night. I have to say this has been one of my favorite paint colors ever. Plus that ICI Dulux Ultra Eggshell is awesome paint. A good angle brush and super paint quality and color have made this project so enjoyable.

Thanks all!!

That is one gorgeous paint, even from here!! The color looks perfect in there, too.

Thanks squirrel! I can't wait to get the rooms back together but I want to make sure all my touchups are done and everything is really dry. I will post new pics when done.

This morning - Sunday - I decided against painting the inside edge of inset windows.

Boy, am I glad I decided to get the two gallons since one would have never been enough.