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The painted blue porch ceiling started in the American South around 200 years ago. In order to repel evil spirits from plantations, porch ceilings were painted a soft blue. The color was meant to mimic water in an effort to keep any haints or spirits at bay.
Do blue porch ceilings keep bugs away?
Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence that blue ceilings do in fact keep bugs away. However, there are some personal testimonies that state they saw fewer spiders and wasps after painting their porch ceiling blue.
Why do people paint porch ceilings blue in the South?
Across the South, the tradition of painting ceilings blue is passed down from generation to generation. There are many stories and legends as to why, and it’s not just about keeping bugs at bay. In the Deep South, a darker blue sometimes called “haint blue” is believed by some to keep away evil spirits.
Why do people paint front porch ceilings blue?
The shade of blue used on many southern ceilings is often called “haint blue”. The blue color was meant to ward off “haints” or evil spirits who might want to harm the house or the family inside. Tricking Insects. Many people argue that painting your porch ceiling blue actually keeps insects away.
Does a blue porch ceiling keep wasps away?
It was used as an insect repellent. There was a more down-to-earth rationale for blue porch ceilings, too—the notion that it could keep wasps and other pests from building nests there. The blue paint actually did thwart insects, but not by outsmarting them.
Will painting a porch ceiling blue?
According to Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, “Simply put, many homeowners choose to paint the porch ceiling blue because of the way it makes that space look and feel. Blue is a calming color, so using it in an area of the house that’s intended for relaxation makes sense.
What color do Southerners paint their porch ceiling?
Porch ceilings in the American South (and parts of the Northeast) are almost always painted blue — whether the rest of the home’s exterior is white, yellow, pink or any other color of the rainbow.
Is haint blue offensive?
“What it is, is that it is a misrepresentation,” said Quet about the term haint blue. “It came from Anglo people that started calling it haint because they didn’t understand the spiritual part of it. So when we hear that, it is offensive to our people and tradition.”.
What color is haint blue?
Haint blue is a collection of pale shades of blue-green that are traditionally used to paint porch ceilings in the southern United States. The tradition originated with the Gullah in Georgia and South Carolina.
Why are porch ceilings painted blue in Key West?
Blue painted porch ceilings are a common and aesthetically beautiful site to see in Key West. The idea was (and for some still is) that blue porch ceilings act as a natural bug repellent because the porch looks like the sky and fools the bugs who obviously won’t build their nests in the sky.
What is the meaning of haint blue paint?
The shade and the term “haint blue” have become mythic and ubiquitous. The Gullah Geechee legend says that evil spirits do not like water and painting spaces to look like water will keep them away. The color is said to have been originally based on the indigo grown in the region in the eighteenth century.
What color do hornets hate?
Wear light-colored clothing. Bees and wasps instinctively perceive dark colors as a threat. Wear white, tan, cream, or gray clothing as much as possible and avoid black, brown, or red clothes. Bees and wasps see the color red as black, so they perceive it as a threat.
Does Sky Blue keep spiders away?
Sky blue paint might actually fool insects as well. Originally we painted the porch ceiling blue over seven years ago and I can say we have had fewer spiders, wasps, and other bugs trying to take up residence on our porch ceiling.
Do spiders avoid sky blue?
The color that spiders tend to hate is light blue. People don’t just paint their porches light blue for the aesthetic. Painting your porch ceiling in this shade is a pretty effective way of keeping spiders away. The color is also known to repel wasps.
What is a porch?
Generally, a porch is a covered area that is attached to the entrance of a building. A porch typically has open sides and offers an easy transition between the indoors and outdoors.
What should I put on my porch ceiling?
One way to achieve a traditional style, and still protect the ceiling of your porch or awning from moisture is to install waterproof beadboard paneling from Allura. Moisture resistant beadboard made of fiber cement has the look and texture of real wood beadboard, but the durability of fiber cement.
Can you paint a ceiling blue?
Your ceiling might not draw quite the same crowd, but painting it can have a big impact on the overall decor. And while white is certainly the safest choice, flip through any design magazine and you’ll quickly note that blue is a decorator favorite.
What does a blue front door mean?
Blue. A blue front door may symbolize prosperity and abundance, and the darker you go the more a blue door can project a sense of tranquility, peace and elegance.
Why is it called haint blue?
Haint blue was supposed to protect people from bad spirits. The Gullah people (also known as the Geechee or Gullah Geechee) in Georgia, a subsection of enslaved people who lived on island and costal plantations, were the first to use this color blue as a protection against evil spirits, calling it “haint blue”.
What color paint keeps bugs away?
Best Exterior Paint Colors That Repel Bugs & birds: Colors such as yellow and white will do a much better job of deterring mosquitoes from your property.
