Explore the style of the Little Women house from the 1994 movie, a beloved example of New England architecture and Victorian-era interior design. Discover the charming details of the house’s exterior and interior, including its ornate furniture, cozy wallpaper, and traditional decor. Learn about the real-life inspiration for the house, its legacy in film and literature, and why it continues to capture the hearts of audiences today.
Little women (the 1994 version all day every day) is my comfort movie. I definitely have to watch it every Christmas season, but it’s also just such a good cozy winter movie too. As I get older, I find myself more and more fascinated with the actual design aesthetic in the house that Little Women takes place in. It’s beautiful, simple, and homage to the time and historical period. I find such comfort in the moody walls, collected kitchen, and architectural details. Come on in and learn a little more about the design of the house from Little Women.
The Charm of the Little Women House
The 1994 movie adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is a beloved classic that tells the story of the four March sisters and their lives in Concord, Massachusetts during the 1860s. One of the most memorable elements of the movie is the March family’s charming New England home. The style of the Little Women house from the 1994 movie can be described as cozy (my favorite), homey, collected, and timeless. There’s so many elements in this home that have stood the test of time. I urge you to look through these pictures and see what design elements would still look gorgeous in a home built today!
The Real-Life Inspiration for the Little Women House
The March family’s home, known as Orchard House, was actually a real-life home in Concord, Massachusetts where Louisa May Alcott wrote the book Little Women. The house was built in 1690 and was owned by the Alcott family from 1858 to 1882. The house is now a museum, and visitors can tour the rooms and see artifacts related to the Alcott family.
This is what the real Orchard House looks like:
Image via LouisaMayAlcott.org
Exterior Design: Classic New England Architecture
The exterior of the house from Little Women was built to look like the real Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, Louisa May Alcott’s childhood home and the setting for her novel. The exterior of the house in the movie was built on Vancouver Island in a forest. There were two houses already built next to each other, but for the sake of the movie, they constructed new facades for each of them.
Interior Design: Traditional, Ornate, and Cozy
Inside, the house is decorated in a style that reflects the period in which the story takes place. The furniture is made of dark wood and has a traditional, ornate style. The living room features a large fireplace with a mantle and a hearth, where the family often gathers to keep warm during the cold New England winters. There is beautiful original woodwork on the walls, and accents of brick around the home as well.
Wallpaper in the Little Women House
The wallpaper in the house is also worth noting. Many of the rooms feature wallpaper with floral or botanical patterns, which was popular during the Victorian era. The wallpaper adds a cozy, homey feel to the house and complements the dark wood furniture and traditional decor, as well as the muted colors (like the green shown below).
The Enduring Appeal of the Little Women House
The Little Women house from the 1994 movie is a beautiful example of New England architecture and Victorian-era interior design. Its timeless style has made it a beloved element of the Little Women story and a popular destination for fans of the book and movie alike. In short: it feels like a warm hug. It’s the epitome of cozy design, and I really hope that my home can feel like it has a nod to the design elements found in this movie home!
Shop the (updated) version of this design style:
Bring the charm and coziness into your home with these curated picks. Simply click on the link to go to the product page (these are affiliate links – full disclosure here).
If you like this post, you’ll be inspired by these cozy kitchen designs as well:
*This article was constructed in part using AI. I added personal insights and edits, as well as pictures from the film*
This is my all time favorite movie! Thank you for this posting.
I love the cozy ideas! Wonderful items that help make a house a home. I love how you paired things together. Thank you for sharing!
This is such a good idea and so different anything out there right now! Excited to see the houses you choose! Amazing article! Good job!
My sister lived in Salem, Massachusetts for 35 years. Her career took her there. She is resides, now in Michigan( her home state), in a historical house that our Dad grew up in. She was ready to give up the house searching, when a picture fell out of folder in her file of my Dad as a baby , with his 2 sisters. The realtor called , and my sister said repeat the address, zoomed on the picture. This was it! It was meant to be!She love’s history! She took us to the Louise May Alcott home a couple of years ago.
We enjoyed it so much. You could feel the warm wonderful vibes of the home. The parents were so ahead of their time teaching the girls to think independently, encouraged them to follow their dreams, which was so frowned upon by the people in the village.
Thankyou for sharing this!