Arlington is home to some of the most beautiful and distinctive historic properties in Northern Virginia. Classic colonials, charming Victorians, stately Craftsman homes—all carry stories that deserve to be preserved with care. Painting plays a central role in that, helping protect their unique character, maintain their value, and keep them looking their best.
At Image Painting, we understand the responsibility that comes with working on historic homes. Our painters combine skilled craftsmanship with respect for architectural details to deliver results that honor the past while ensuring your home stands strong for the future.
The Importance of Painting Historic Homes
Painting a historic home is about more than refreshing its appearance. It’s an essential part of preservation. Careful painting safeguards original features and materials that may be over a century old, helping to extend the life of wood, plaster, and masonry.
A quality paint job also shields aging materials from the elements. Sun, rain, and seasonal temperature swings can quickly damage unprotected surfaces, leading to rot, cracks, or erosion. Properly applied finishes create a barrier that keeps moisture and UV rays at bay.
Finally, paint enhances curb appeal while staying true to a home’s historic roots. With the right colors and finishes, your home will stand out in its neighborhood—not by looking modernized, but by proudly showcasing its authentic character.
Our Approach to Historic Home Painting
Painting historic properties requires a thoughtful, careful process. At Image Painting, we take every precaution to protect the features that make your home special. Trim, moldings, and other architectural details are shielded during prep and painting so their integrity is never compromised.
We also pay close attention to historically accurate colors and finishes. Our team can help you select shades that reflect the era of your home, whether you’re restoring its original palette or choosing period-appropriate updates that blend authenticity with your personal style.
Historic surfaces often require specialized techniques. From delicate plaster to intricate woodwork, we use methods designed to provide coverage and protection without causing damage. The result is a finish that looks right for the home’s age and endures for years to come.
Challenges of Painting Historic Homes in Arlington
Every historic home presents unique challenges that require specialized knowledge and care. Our team is experienced in addressing the most common issues to ensure lasting, authentic results:
Aging Materials: Older wood, plaster, and masonry often need additional preparation to help paint adhere properly. We stabilize and treat these surfaces to create a strong foundation for a durable finish.
Lead-Based Paint: Many homes built before 1978 contain lead paint. We follow all safety guidelines for containment and removal, protecting your family and our crew throughout the process.
Historic Details: Matching trim, finishes, and other craftsmanship requires precision. We take extra care to replicate details and blend new paint seamlessly with original features.
Benefits of Professional Historic Painting Services
Professional historic painting is an investment in both beauty and preservation. With the right care, your home remains structurally sound, visually striking, and true to its original character. Notable benefits include:
Longevity: Proper preparation and application extend the lifespan of your home’s exterior and interior surfaces, reducing the need for frequent touch-ups or repairs.
Value: A well-maintained historic home commands a higher property value. Buyers are drawn to houses that preserve original charm and clearly reflect ongoing care.
Authenticity: Expert painters safeguard your home while maintaining its historic identity, so it continues to tell its story for years to come.
Popular Historic Color Palettes in Arlington, VA
One of the most exciting parts of painting a historic home is selecting colors that reflect its era. Traditional colonial palettes often feature rich earth tones, deep reds, and muted greens. Victorian homes, on the other hand, embrace more elaborate schemes with contrasting shades that highlight decorative trim and details.
For a timeless look, many Arlington homeowners opt for neutrals paired with period-appropriate accents. Creams, grays, and soft taupes provide an elegant backdrop, while darker shutters or doors add contrast.
Balancing history with modern tastes is also possible. You might choose historically inspired colors, but in slightly updated tones that complement today’s design sensibilities. Our team can guide you through the options to achieve a look that respects tradition while feeling fresh.
Why Choose Us for Your Historic Home Painting
Since 2003, Image Painting has been trusted by homeowners across Arlington and the DC metro area. We’ve worked in some of the region’s most cherished historic neighborhoods, earning a reputation for care, precision, and respect for preservation guidelines.
Our painters are not only skilled but also trained in the techniques required for delicate surfaces and aging materials. We use premium paints and products designed to protect historic homes against the elements without compromising authenticity.
Above all, we treat every project with the attention it deserves. From the first consultation to the final brushstroke, our team’s focus is on delivering results that honor your home’s history and keep it beautiful for years to come.
Get a Free Historic Home Painting Estimate in Arlington, VA
Protecting your historic home begins with the right plan. At Image Painting, we make it simple to schedule a consultation and get clear recommendations tailored to your property.
During your consultation, we’ll walk through your home with you, discuss your goals, and provide a detailed estimate. You’ll know exactly what to expect in terms of preparation, process, and finishes before the work begins.
If you’re ready to safeguard your home’s history while giving it renewed beauty, we’d love to help. Contact Image Painting today to request your free historic home painting estimate in Arlington, VA.
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John McDuffie2025-09-01Very careful, thorough estimate of our exterior house painting needs. We needed not only painting, but also woodwork repair—and they delivered! Very courteous, hardworking painting crew, and the job was reasonably priced.
Daniel Park2025-08-26Everyone on the team was helpful and accommodating. Our large commercial project was quite complicated including requiring weekend hours, carpentry repairs, and language barriers. They handled everything well and the final product looks great!
Mary M2025-08-15Very professional. Kept us updated every step of the way while painting our exterior. They did some carpentry repair as well. Recommend!!
Sara V2025-08-15Image Painting did an excellent job painting the interior of my home. I was really pleased that my estimate included two hours with a consultant who helped me select paint color, as I was stumped. The painters who came to my home were extremely thorough and did an exceptional job with prep, painting, and cleanup. I simply love the results.
Jinene Christian2025-08-12Thank you for an incredible job. We're thrilled with the results and will certainly use you again for future interior painting.
Ivan Echevarria2025-08-09I had a great experience with Image Painting. Andrew was very thorough when he came by to give an estimate which was quite competitive. The crew was great – they were really detail-oriented and took their time. They were also courteous and nice. Erick did a very thorough walk-around at the end. The finished product looks great, and I'm thrilled with the results.
Elizabeth M2025-08-07I love my house painting! The project managers were easy to work with, work was done neatly, workers were on time and professional. I changed my mind about the color part of the way through and it was handled with ease and fairly priced. Definitely would recommend!
Kathleen O'Leary2025-08-07Painted exterior of the house and it looks great! Friendly service and spotless cleanup!
Luke Martin2025-08-06Image Painting wrapped up painting our house this week, and I'm really satisfied with the job they did. I was honestly a little skeptical when they first started, given how much lower their estimate was compared to the two other quotes we got, but Marco and his crew put in a ton of work scraping, prepping, priming/painting, doing the finish work, and cleaning up! They showed up right on time at 8am every day, and communication was great throughout the process - from the first consultation and pre-planning to the on-site day-to-day checking in that the crew did. I would definitely recommend them if you live in D.C. and are looking to have your house painted.
CLEAN, PROMPT, FRIENDLY SERVICE
Why Hire Us For Your Next Painting Project?
- Affordable Written Quotes – Interior and Exterior
- Residential Painters – Houses, Condos, Townhouse, Apartments
- Commercial Painters – HOAs, Churches, Hotels, Retailers, Offices and Industrial Buildings
- Work Directly with Local Owners
- Three-year Guarantee with Written Warranty
- Color Matching and Color Consultation Expert Advice
- High Quality Paint Brands – Custom Formulations
- Professional Credentials – BBB A+ Rating, PDCA, Arlington Chamber Member
- Secondary Services – Carpentry, Drywall, Plaster, Wallpaper, Power Wash
- Licensed & Insured Painters in VA, MD, DC