How to Choose the Perfect Ceiling Fan
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Stay cool and comfortable all year round with this simple guide on how to choose a ceiling fan for your home.
Here are a few more decor ideas we think you’ll find helpful – The BEST Gray Paint, $30 Photo Collage, and Creating a Cozy Guest Room.
Living in Arizona, ceiling fans aren’t just an optional piece of decor for your home, they are an absolute must! We experience triple-digit heat for multiple months in a row, so unless you want the a/c running all day long, a ceiling fan is a great, affordable way to help keep your home cool in the summer time.
Since we moved to our new home at the very beginning of summer, installing fans in the bedrooms, office, loft and family room was top on our project list!
And while I don’t consider myself a ceiling fan expert, I have chosen (and re-chosen!) fans enough times over the years that I definitely have some tips to share about the process.
Let’s explore why ceiling fans are a must-have for every home, how to select the right one, and how they can add a fun design element to your living space.
Why Ceiling Fans are Good for Homes
Energy Efficiency
Ceiling fans are a cost-effective way to cool your home without significantly increasing your energy bill. By circulating air and creating a breeze-like effect, ceiling fans can make a room feel several degrees cooler, allowing you to reduce your reliance on air conditioning.
Improved Air Circulation
Stagnant air can lead to discomfort and even health issues due to poor indoor air quality. Ceiling fans help circulate air, preventing mold and mildew growth, and ensuring a fresher, healthier environment for you and your family.
Versatility
Ceiling fans are versatile fixtures that can be used in any room of the house, from the living room and bedroom to the kitchen and outdoor patio. With a variety of styles, sizes, and finishes available, you can find the perfect fan to complement your decor and meet your specific needs.
How to Choose the Perfect Ceiling Fan
Pick a Trusted Brand
This sounds so simple, I know. But consider the following –
In our last home, we walked into the hardware store, spotted a fan we liked the look of, brought it home and used it just a handful of times over several months. No matter how much we adjusted or tried to balance it, that thing was wobbly and it felt dangerous!
After much frustration, we even hired a handyman to help us out. He basically said, “I haven’t had much luck with this brand – they tend to shake much more than they should.”
Well shoot. That was money down the drain. (Not to mention a total hassle!)
We decided to replace those fans, but only after doing more research. We read several reviews on multiple websites and finally decided Hunter fans was who we’d try next.
Not only does Hunter have a HUGE variety of fans, they offer amazing customer support and a Lifetime Limited Warranty – meaning they stand behind their product, and, if something does go wrong, they will work with you to remedy the situation.
It only took me one bad ceiling fan experience to value this concept so SO much!
Size Matters
When selecting a ceiling fan, consider the size of the room. A ceiling fan that is too small for your room won’t offer enough air circulation, while a ceiling fan that is too big could create an excessive amount of air movement.
For smaller rooms (up to 75 square feet), opt for a fan with a blade span of 36 inches or less. Larger rooms (up to 400 square feet), choose a fan with a blade span of 52 inches or more.
For reference, our family room is 700 s/f and nice and open. It also has 20-foot ceilings, so the fan we chose has a 60 inch blade span and we hung it on a 72 inch downrod.
Here are some helpful sizing guidelines:
Blade Material
Ceiling fan blades come in a variety of materials, including wood, metal, and plastic. Wooden blades are stylish and durable, while metal blades are easy to clean and maintain. Plastic blades are lightweight and affordable, making them a practical choice for budget-conscious shoppers.
Style and Finish
Ceiling fans are available in a wide range of styles and finishes, from classic and traditional to modern and contemporary. Choose a fan that complements your existing decor and enhances the overall aesthetic of your home.
Additional Features
Look for ceiling fans with additional features such as remote controls, reversible blades, and built-in lighting. These extras can enhance the functionality and convenience of your fan, making it easier to use and more enjoyable to own.
Aesthetic Appeal: Making Fans a Focal Point
Gone are the days when ceiling fans were just functional fixtures. Today’s designs offer a perfect blend of form and function, allowing you to make a stylish statement in any room. Whether you prefer a sleek, minimalist design or a fan with intricate detailing and ornate blades, there’s a ceiling fan out there that’s perfect for you.
Tips for Styling with Ceiling Fans
- Choose a Fan with a Unique Design: Opt for a fan with a distinctive design or finish that complements your decor and serves as a focal point in the room.
- Accessorize with Lighting: Select a fan with built-in lighting to enhance the aesthetic appeal and functionality of your fan.
- Consider the Ceiling Height: For rooms with low ceilings, choose a hugger or low-profile fan to maximize space and maintain a sleek, streamlined look.
Did you know…
This is Hunter’s 130th year making fans, and in celebration of that, they’ve released over 130 new fans, making it their biggest launch to date! For more information on finding the perfect fans for your home, visit Hunter’s website and social channels:
Website || Facebook || Instagram || Pinterest || YouTube
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Hunter written by me. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own because I truly love Hunter fans! Thanks for supporting our sponsors so we can continue to provide creative content and household tips to SomewhatSimple.com
This post is late for me because I just went through the process of buying a new ceiling fan for my living room a couple of months ago! It is surprising what a difficult decision it was. I have seen decorating shows where they don’t like fans. They obviously don’t live in AZ! How would we live without them?
Your comment made me laugh ’cause I totally agree! Those design shows don’t always plan the most functional designs – we need our fans!!! 🙂
This came at the perfect time for my family! We have been planning to get new fans throughout the house. I love all of the styles you have in this posting. Thanks so much for all of the tips!
Awesome Karen! So glad to help! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your nice comment! 🙂 Have a great evening………….
Hey steph. I can back looking for this post. I need to replace all the fans in my house. We’ve been putting it off because they work so well, but they are outdated. When we bought the house, we install 2 fans in rooms that didn’t ever have fans. I hate them. They are just not a tough enough fan. I need two things from my ceiling fans. 1- power! It has to be push the air around really well. Nothing worse than a wimpy ceiling fan when it’s 120* outside. 2-the lights need to be bright. In most of the rooms it is our main source of light so I want it to be bright. So on that note…how are the ones you bought?
LOVE the ones we got! I was especially worried about the one in our family room – I’ve never had 20 foot ceilings before and I worried it wouldn’t be low enough to feel the breeze even on the longest pole they offered. I thought I’d have to stand in the center of the room with my arms above my head to feel it – hahaha! But it actually gets the air moving enough to cool the room down and you can feel a breeze sitting on the couch – so yay!!! And ours are the main or only source of light in all our bedrooms, and they work great! Our bedrooms aren’t huge, but they do get some great natural light and I’ve been really happy with the lighting situation from our fans. Choosing fans is so hard ’cause it is such an investment when you’re talking about every room of the house!!! Good luck!
I’m glad you talked about picking a fan that matches the look of your home as well as considering the height of the fan. My wife is wanting to replace our ceiling fan in the living room in the summer because she wants to have one that is longer and more modern looking. Thanks for the tips and I’ll share this with her so we can know what is important in our fan buying process.
You’re so welcome!