Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it has taken me this long to share with you our Southern Porch painted Haint blue.
Way back when I shared with you some pictures and history of the Southern Haint blue porch tradition.
Blue painted ceilings can be found on porches across America, often for different reasons. Historians say the blue porch ceiling was born in South Carolina, where a group of African descendants believed that ghosts, or “haints,” couldn’t cross water. In painting their porches blue, they trusted the spirits would be confused by the water-colored hues and tricked into thinking they couldn’t enter their home. The school of thought became so popular in the South, that no matter the color blue, blue exterior home accents were dubbed Haint Blue.
Blue porch ceilings are said by some to promote a cool, calming atmosphere. The tradition also has some superstition behind it – that blue ceilings ward off evil spirits, as well as spiders and wasps, and that blue is a harbinger of good luck.
Although, big in Charleston, Savannah and various other places in the South…
even in New Orleans I believe…… not so much here in my little town.
I am betting we are the only house with a Haint blue ceiling.
But you know me, I am OK with that…I don’t want to be like everyone else:)
I will share with you our Southern Haint blue porch, that stands out like a sore thumb in our little town!
I have to admit, even my painter was apprehensive.
In fact, he said he has never done a job like this.
When all was said and done…
Said Painter man
liked it a lot.
As you can see it is slightly different than the Blue I shared in my first picture.
That picture was taken in Charleston.
There are in fact different variations of the haint blue and I went with
a Charleston Blue color that appealed to me.
Of course, some blue accents here and there.
You know I love blue.
I can’t wait to get some pretty flowers out here.
Thanks for stopping over today!
Pardon the end of winter, not looking so fresh but will very soon
Southern Rustic painted Haint blue porch.
Ghostly legends spurred the Haint Blue porch ceiling trend in the South, but you can pick this color just because it’s pretty
Thanks for stopping by today!
Hope you sit and have some sweet tea with me.
Penny @ The Comforts of Home & Flea Market Makeovers says
March 9 at 8:34 amIt is a pretty color. I also heard that it keeps wasps from making nests on the porch because they think the blue is the sky….probably just a story.
debbiedoo's says
March 9 at 8:37 amNope that is suppose to be true too Penny.
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
March 9 at 9:14 amI think it looks very pretty, Debbie. I just finished reading a book that took place in the South and they mention these ceilings and their meaning. Of course, it had to do with ghosts. I can’t wait to get some flowers going around our condo. If the temps cooperate as forecast, our snow should all be gone by early this coming week. That will be a start at least!
Heather says
March 9 at 9:47 amI adore that! It really pops and compliments your house and colors!! Good for you, being daring and different! I only have a tiny porch, but I might try it!
Martina says
March 9 at 9:56 amI think it looks great Debbie, such a pretty color! Your porch always looks so pretty and welcoming! I can’t wait to start planting some flowers! We’re having spring like weather here this weekend upper 50’s maybe even hitting 60:)
shelia says
March 9 at 10:14 amOh, I love it, Debbie Dear! There’s lots of historical homes here in Galveston and almost everyone has the porch ceiling painted blue to ward off the spooks and it also is supposed to keep wasps from building there nest on the blue ceiling. It’s supposed to trick them into thinking the blue is the sky. Wasps must be pretty dumb! 🙂
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 🙂
Elaine @ Sunny Simple Life says
March 9 at 10:22 amWell I love it. I saw on P. Allen Smith once a story about this and he said it was done because somehow it deters flies. Not sure if that is true.
Savannah Granny says
March 9 at 10:49 amDebbie, You porch looks great. “Haint it pretty!” Can’t wait to see it all dressed for
Spring!
Another story about the blue ceilings is that the birds won’t build nests on the porch for the previously stated reasons.
I prefer to think it was just another demand Scarlett made of Rhett! Just because she was Scarlett.!
Love to all, Ginger
Angela says
March 9 at 11:02 amVery pretty! I had never heard of that tradition. Will it work in Texas??!! I think I’ll give it a try!
debbiedoo's says
March 9 at 11:13 amIt sure will Angela!
Tina says
March 9 at 11:21 amI’ve had my porch ceiling painted blue for about 7 years and I’ve had no wasp nests there.
However, the spiders seem to love it!
The wasps make their nests in the fireplace or under the cushion seats, which completely freaks me out.
I’d prefer they hang out near the ceiling so I wouldn’t come upon a big scary surprise! LOL
Looks beautiful, Debbie!
pat says
April 26 at 9:52 amMaybe you should paint your chair bottoms blue!! haha, just a thought.
Shannon @ Fox Hollow Cottage says
March 9 at 11:24 amOh Debbie! I have been looking forward to this post 🙂 I remember when you got it done and I am so happy to get to see it. I love it!!!! So much.
Sharon says
March 9 at 11:26 amI LOVE it, Debbie. You know I’m a big fan of blue myself. I didn’t know the southern blue porch ceilings were called haint blue. I’ll have to look for that. I’m considering painting our porch ceiling too. Then we can stick out like sore thumbs together. 😉
Claire @ A Little Claireification says
March 9 at 11:45 amLooks gorgeous, Debbie!! I love that blue!
RMFrancis says
March 9 at 11:50 amLove your blue porch. Not sure how it would look on a mid west porch but kind of want to do it just to keep the bug away!
Yvonne @ StoneGable says
March 9 at 11:57 amDebbie, I am so in love with Haint paint! It is all over Savannah too! Your porch is stunning and even more delightful because of your fabulous blue/green ceiling!!!! How charming! Now NO spirits will cross your threshold, for sure!
I have such an itch to do the same thing to the porch at StoneGable!!!!
LOVE this post!
Bliss says
March 9 at 11:58 amWell it makes me want to paint my porch ceiling. Maybe not Haute Blue, but it’s just boring soffit cream now, so anything to make it stand out would be nice.
Bliss
Deb @ Lake Girl Paints says
March 9 at 12:30 pmoooo…I’m a blue girl too. Your ceiling is just beautiful!
Well, the whole porch is. Hope you get time to sit there!
Deb@LakeGirlPaints
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
March 9 at 1:13 pmIt’s a gorgeous porch. I had no idea that blue was traditional for Southern Porch. I like it very much.
Ricki Jill Treleaven says
March 9 at 1:25 pmLove this, and yes, almost every porch ceiling in New Orleans is painted Haint Blue, but I think they call it Taint Blue in New Orleans.
Ricki Jill Treleaven says
March 9 at 1:25 pmOh, and your porch is lovely, Debbie!
Cindy says
March 9 at 4:10 pmI’ve always loved these southern homes with painted blue ceilings. Yours turned out great!
Blessings,
Cindy
ann says
March 9 at 8:12 pmOh I adore this! I want to paint my front porch ceiling haint blue but I’m not sure it’s the think to do in Ohio! I might just do it anyway. I’m a blue lover too. Good job!
Audrey Zumwalt says
March 9 at 8:42 pmDebbie … I knew you were planning to paint the porch ceiling blue and wondered if you changed your mind. Thanks for sharing. Looks really nice. Our ceiling is not very pretty, but don’t know if I could go that dark, but maybe just a hint of blue. Something to think about.
Have a great week,
Hugs,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
Debra@CommonGround says
March 10 at 12:28 amLove it!! you may be a trendsetter in your neck of the woods, Debbie!!
Kris Vavra says
March 10 at 1:56 amDebbie
Love Love Love it. It is gorgeous. We took a trip to Charleston a year ago and I just loved all the beautiful homes the side sleeping porches and the history. I want to be a SC girl. I think your porch is so welcoming and pretty
Kris
Lorraine@MissFlibbertigibbet says
March 10 at 7:44 amMy daughter painted her new screened porch Haint blue and it’s SO purty ….LOL I have been wanting to do this to mine for so long but my husband is resistant! Our house is perfect for it too! Looks so good…..maybe you’ll start a trend! I can’t believe your painter has never done that before…and he’s in the South too!
Kathy says
March 10 at 8:38 amI love it! And your accents are perfect!! Have a wonderful time in Ireland…so jealous! Never been to Dublin only Cork and Kinsale…area and loved it! Safe travels!
Pat says
March 10 at 11:39 amWell, I love it and it’s good to be different! Now you’ll have good luck and be protected too. 😉
xo
Pat
Lisa Palmese says
March 10 at 12:52 pmDebbie,
I just Love your Blue Ceiling and the rest of everyone else if they don’t like it Oh well !!
You like it and that’s what is important.
Looks Beautiful
Lisa
debbiedoo's says
March 10 at 3:08 pmThanks everyone. I can’t wait til Spring/Summer when I have some pretty flowers out here.
Judy says
March 10 at 7:26 pmHi Debbie. I love it. Seems I’ve heard the story of the “haint”. Is it the bad spirit and painting the porch keeps it away? I think I may have heard about that. Our porch ceiling is painted blue, but with the Victorians I think it was just to signify the blue sky overhead..It’s very pretty, whatever..Happy Weekend..Judy
Pat says
March 12 at 8:49 amAlmost all of the older homes in our town have the blue porch ceilings. Being a Southern Girl, seeing blue ceilings is the norm over most of the South. Reasons why? Haines, wasps, and it is cooler.
Your porch looks great.
Jen Rollins says
March 12 at 11:55 amLove it! Being a southern girl myownself AND having spent two years in the Carolinas during graduate school, I am very partial to the blue porch ceiling. Interesting about the ghosts – I was always under the impression that it kept things cooler. Either way – it’s lovely!
Looking for the newbie party and wondering if it’s been completely replaced by the Pinterest party instead.
Jen
Traci says
March 12 at 3:22 pmVery pretty! I love the color you chose.
Christy @ Our Southern Home says
March 22 at 4:24 pmIt is just fabulous! I’ve been considering painting ours. You did a beautiful job on your front porch! 🙂
Johanna says
April 3 at 8:01 amYour porch turned out great! What a lovely color. I’ve always had a fling for the Southern style and I think I´ll take the idea overseas and paint our porch blue 🙂
Vickie Dellinger says
April 21 at 12:45 amNow I know why my 100 year old farm house porch has hints of blue paint showing through the white in my porch ceiling. Yes , I think mine will be blue again soon. Love yours.. Great Job !
tammy says
September 21 at 2:48 pmMy great grandparents porch ceiling was always blue, guess I know why now.
kirby carespodi says
May 31 at 9:18 amI fell in love with those ceilings the first time I visited Charleston, about 20 years ago. Just one more reason for me to move to SC! (Plus the bigger paycheck.)