What Color is Your Porch Ceiling?

If it is not blue, you may be missing out on everything from natural insect repellent to protection from evil spirits!

Blue porch ceilings are a Southern tradition and were especially prevalent during Victorian times, when the colors of nature were preferred for painting exteriors. They can also be found in Colonial homes along the east coast in historic cities like Boston and Philadelphia.

Why blue? Some Southerners suggest that blue porch ceilings arose from fear of "haints," restless spirits of the dead that were held at bay by the color blue.

Some people swear that blue paint repels insects, although this has very little scientific basis. It may arise from early milk paints that included lye in their ingredient list. Lye is a known insect repellent and milk paint fades quickly, so porch ceilings repainted each year might have served to keep insects away.

While these two theories may be rooted in fantasy, the truth is that blue is a calming color, and most people use their porches for relaxation. Having a blue ceiling mimics the natural sky and can lighten and brighten spaces to give the feeling of longer daylight hours.

The shade of blue you select will depend on the style of your home. Softer, more gray blues will work better with traditional homes while brighter, more saturated blues will play well with more contemporary structures. In any case, the abundance of natural light outdoors will allow you to select a darker shade than you might use inside you home.

Go blue!

For more information on using color in your home, call us today at 513-771-3927

Blue porch ceilings are a Southern tradition and were especial