Table of Contents
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.
Does painting a porch ceiling blue keep wasps 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 Southerners paint their porch ceiling blue?
Across the South, the tradition of painting ceilings blue is passed down from generation to generation. In the Deep South, a darker blue sometimes called “haint blue” is believed by some to keep away evil spirits.
Does painting porch ceiling blue keep birds away?
Summer days seem to last longer when afternoons are spent on the porch, and a pale blue ceiling overhead helps extend the daylight into dusk. Blue ceilings are also said to deter birds from nesting there and insects from buzzing around.
What is the significance of a blue ceiling?
According to the Gullah/Geechee, a blue porch ceiling brought good luck to the home and helped to ward away evil spirits as these lost souls are unable to cross water. A haint blue porch ceiling resembles water and prevents haints from harming the people in the house.
Does painting porch ceiling blue work?
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 does a blue porch mean in the South?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Does haint blue keep bugs away?
This blue/green color or “Haint Blue” is not only calming and aesthetically pleasing, but also it apparently helps repel bugs. It also has an important folk lore purpose of warding off evil spirits. Haint blue can be seen on doors, shutters, entire buildings and most commonly on porch ceilings all over the world.
Do spiders avoid 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.
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.
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 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.
Why do blue ceilings keep bugs away?
When blue paints were first used on ceilings, they were usually milk paints, and those paints often had lye mixed into the composition. Lye is a known insect repellent, which would explain why insects would avoid nesting on a painted porch ceiling or ledge.”Apr 11, 2017.
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 blue keeps wasps away?
The other step I highly recommend is to paint eaves and porch and patio ceilings with the color called haint blue. It is a robin’s-egg blue that, according to Southern tradition, discourages wasps from building nests on its surface.
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 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.
What color is Waterscape?
Waterscape is a soft, shaded, sea glass green with a crystal undertone. It is a perfect paint color for a bedroom or spa-like bathroom. Pair it with white trim and soft golden accents.
