Did you know that painting your porch ceiling a light blue deters wasps and birds from building nests? They confuse the ceiling for sky and build their nests elsewhere. The “haint” part of haint blue comes from the Gullah Geechee culture of the southeastern U.S., where the color was believed to ward off “haints” (aka haunts or spirits) by tricking them into thinking the porch was sky or water that they could not cross, thus protecting the people inside the home.
Whatever your reason for choosing haint blue, it’s also just a beautiful blue-green color. And very historically accurate for old home porches, especially in the southern United States. Below, I’ve collected my five favorite haint blue paint colors, including the one I chose for my front porch ceiling!
BEHR Breezeway
If you’re looking for a light but cheerful haint blue, BEHR Breezeway is a great option for you. BEHR describes it as a “soft sea glass green,” and with a Light Reflective Value (LRV) of 66, it’s the lightest of my favorite haint blue options. And judging by the name Breezeway, you can clearly tell that BEHR expects for this color to be used on porches and other outdoor covered areas. Like all of these haint blue paint colors, Breezeway is a chameleon color and looks blue or green depending on the lighting and time of day.
Farrow & Ball Green Blue
On the opposite end of the lightness spectrum here is Farrow & Ball’s Green Blue, which has an approximate LRV of 49, which qualifies as a medium paint color. Medium colors, for reference, fall in the 40–60 LRV range. So if you’re looking for a darker color that still reads as a true haint blue, F&B Green Blue is a great option for you. This is also a beautiful color for front doors.
Sherwin-Williams Rainwashed
Sherwin-Williams Rainwashed is one of the most popular haint blue paint colors on the market for a reason—it’s just so perfectly balanced. It sits right on the edge of blue and green with just enough gray to feel subdued and tranquil. With an LRV of 59, it’s slightly darker and more muted than BEHR Breezeway. Because it’s so balanced, SW Rainwashed color also looks beautiful on interior walls.
Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue
On paper, Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue may look like a typical greenish haint blue, but I find that in application, it reads more blue. So if you want a traditional haint blue color that leans cool, BM Woodlawn Blue is a great choice for you. It’s also part of Benjamin Moore’s Historical Colors collection, which are all paint colors inspired by traditional paints of the past. BM Woodlawn Blue has an LRV of 60.65, giving it almost the exact lightness of SW Rainwashed.
Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue
And now for my personal choice… Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue! Like BM Woodlawn Blue, this color is part of Benjamin Moore’s Historical Colors collection and has almost the exact same LRV at 60.4. The difference is that BM Palladian Blue leans slightly green instead. And personally as a green lover, that’s my preference. Benjamin Moore describes it as a “soft, airy blue-green that conjures clear skies,” and I think that’s the perfect description. I love watching it change from blue to green throughout the day, and I think it’s a good match for my medium green exterior siding color, BM Creekside Green.
I hope this roundup was helpful for you on your search for the perfect haint blue for your home! If you’re looking for more free paint color suggestions, check out the rest of my favorite paint colors.
