Building New or Remodeling your Home

The painted blue porch ceiling originated in the Southern USA approximately 200 years ago and the practice still continues today. You can find the blue porch on homes of all sizes and styles in all economic areas. The tradition spawned from the Gullah Geechee, enslaved people living in the low country of the southern US states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 

Blue was used to repel evil spirits from homes and is a tradition that continues today. Folklore explains that evil spirits (also referred to as a "haint") are unable to cross water. Protecting their homes the Gullah people believed that they could trick the spirits by painting the porch ceilings, windows, doors and shutters a soft blue/green mixture, "haint blue" and the spirits would be scared away thinking the blue color was water and would not cross into their homes. 

Other people believe that this 'haint blue" has become a tradition in the south to keep birds, wasp and spiders away thinking the blue ceiling is the sky and there would be no place to nest.

No matter the reason, the blue porch ceilings can add charm to any home and possibly protect it at the same time.