Exterior Paint Colors of Little Washington VA

Today on the blog, I'm taking you on a tour of the charming town of Washington, Virginia. The town is a little over an hour from D.C. and is known by locals as Little Washington, as it is said George Washington surveyed the area himself in 1749. How cool is that??

One of my favorite things to do is grab a coffee from Patty O’s, and take the girls on a stroll through this town, savoring all the delicious color palettes. Walking through this historic, small town, you'll find no two houses are alike. And rather than white, beige or gray exteriors being the rule, they are the exception here.

historic little washington VA image source

Many of these houses are over 300 years old and have been restored to include the original shutters, muntins and trim. Swoon!

historic paint colors

Due to modern architecture, and it’s lack of ornate details (think real wood, window muntins, corbels, trim etc..), most houses my clients ask me to select paint colors for only require three shades, at the most. So to see a house with four or more paint colors definitely makes me look twice! And that is what you will find in Little Washington, VA.

Take this gorgeous Victorian for instance. Every time I walk by it I see another color I hadn’t previously noticed. I believe there are six total!

historic paint colors on green victorian house

The Inn at Little Washington has changed colors over the years, but this gorgeous blue with red shutters and white trim is a classic. The Asian-style railing is so drool-worthy, I can’t take it.

In Inn at Little Washington VA image source

A goldenrod colored siding with sage trim, black shutters, burgundy red doors and windows look so handsome with a green metal roof and cedar shingles on this little bungalow.

yellow house with sage green trim and red door

The Parsonage - one of the guest houses at the inn - boosts green siding, paired with dark red shutters and a buttery yellow on the Moroccan-style doors.

historic paint colors, green house with yellow door and red shutters

A steel blue house with peach shutters, white trim and eggplant muntins looks so sweet with these flower boxes on the windows.

blue house with peach shutters

The Gamekeepers cottage stands out with red siding, off white trim and yellow shutters…

red house with yellow shutters, The Gamekeepers Cottage image source

The George Washington Ballroom features cream siding with stately blue shutters and deep red doors. (See this post to find the paint name for a similar door color)

historic paint colors, red door and blue shutters

A similar green to the one I selected for this kitchen looks so darling on this cream-colored storage shed with red shutters.

historic paint colors green door and red shutters on cream house

(related)

Soft green siding with pale yellow trim and white accents leads guests to a dramatic, glossy black door via the crosshatch brick pavers at the Claiborne chateau

historic paint colors, green house with yellow trim and black door

Across from Patty O’s bakery, you will find a captivating, curry paint color, paired with jewel toned blue shutters and a glossy deep red door.

historic paint colors on yellow house with red door and blue shutters

A classic, barn-red colored siding with pale yellow trim and an olive green door feels right at home in Little Washington, VA.

historic paint colors, red house with green door

Can we talk about how cute this house is, complete with gingerbread trim?? It looks like a real life dollhouse…but back to the colors... I love the red roof with this pretty mid-tone blue, paired with cream trim. Precious!

gingerbread trim with red metal room on historic house with top porch

A pail yellow is complimented by deep green shutters and a red door in this historic farmhouse.

yellow farmhouse with green shutters and red door

The Cardinal house is a new stay at the Inn at Little Washington. It’s chocolate brown siding is accentuated by a sparkling copper roof, kelly green muntins, French blue shutters and cream scalloped trim. I cannot wait to see the inside!

green window muntins, blue shutters, brown siding, cream scalloped trim at The Cardinal House in Little Washington VA

Purples always get me on Victorian houses. I think anytime you are selecting a bold color choice for your exterior, two-toned is the way to go. It offers less contrast so feels a little easier on the eyes.

Purple Victorian house with lavender siding and eggplant shutters

See something you like here that you would like to replicate on your own home? Click the link below to check out my online design color consultation services!

Until next time…

Hi. I’m Katherine.

I’m the content creator for this blog and interior designer at Hausmatter Interiors, an online design service.