A Shameful Past
Still, the tradition had to start somewhere. It seems that the origin of painting porches and shutters blue might be rooted in regular issues or something more shameful. Sherwin-Williams has put a case together for the latter, which might have begun with the Victorians.
Earthy, Natural Tones
This theory is that the Victorians and those living in the late 19th century preferred to decorate their properties with paints that looked like they came from the natural world. This means they applied more earthy colors (terracotta and ochre) to the home to give a sense of being outside.