Whether they're painted the palest of powder blues or various shades of cobalt, aqua, teal, periwinkle or gray - blue porches are popular everywhere, and you may find the reasons behind them (which vary by region) surprising. 

In the Northwest United States, blue porch ceilings became popular when earlier generations followed the teachings of the Aurora Colony - a Christian communal society that gained popularity in the 1850s.

In the Southern region of the United States (especially in South Carolina) blue porch ceilings originated with the fear of haints - restless spirits of the dead who have not moved on from their physical world. "Haint Blue" is traditionally intended to protect homeowners from being "taken" or influenced by haints.

While most credible sources discredit the belief that blue paint repels insects, a lot of people swear by this technique for enjoying bug-free summer afternoons and evenings. Historically, however, the composition of the first blue paints used was made up of milk paints mixed with lye. Lye (a known insect repellent) explains why insects would avoid nesting on porch ledges or ceilings painted blue in days gone by.

Regardless of whether or not these "traditional" methods work or not, blue is a calming color, so it just makes sense to use it to paint the area of your home that's made specifically for relaxation. Enjoying the outdoors from the comfort of a front porch is a tradition that isn't going anywhere, anytime soon.

Find out more on this beautiful trend.