How To Choose A Ceiling Fan

Choosing a new ceiling fan for your home is kind of a big deal. In fact, it can be daunting. How big of a fan do you need for your space? What fan designs should you choose? What features are necessary? Does it matter how many blades the fan has?

Fortunately, it’s actually not that hard to choose a ceiling fan. For most homeowners, the choice of fan style will be the most difficult one – and that’s just because there are so many different fan styles available today. As far as fan size goes, you should choose a size that’s appropriate for the size of the space you’re in. Consider what features you need in a fan-like smart connectivity or wall controls – by thinking about how you plan to use the fixture. And no, it doesn’t matter that much how many blades the fan has – but more blades will create less noticeable airflow. Here’s what you need to know to

choose the right ceiling fan (or fans) for your home.

Choose a Fan Design that Matches Your Decor

The right ceiling fan does more than just circulate air in the room. It’s a focal point, a conversation piece, a design element that can pull the room together. That’s why it’s so important to consider your home design aesthetic when you’re choosing a ceiling fan.

It shouldn’t be hard to find a fan that goes with the rest of your decor. Fans these days are sold in every style imaginable, from rustic farmhouse ceiling fans to ultra-modern industrial and steampunk fans. Whether your taste is more mid-century modern or more cottagecore, you will surely be able to find something you like.

Measure the Size of the Room Where You Will Hang the Fan

Fan size is probably the most important thing to get right when you’re choosing a new ceiling fan. If your fan is too little, it’s not going to give you the air circulation you’re looking for. If it’s too big, you’re going to feel overwhelmed by powerful gusts.

Before you ever go shopping for a fan, you need to measure the square footage of the room in which you intend to install the fan. If the room is smaller than 75 square feet, shop for fans under 29 to 32 inches wide (fan measurements are taken across the width of the blades, from one blade tip to another). If the room is 75 to 144 square feet, shop for fans 36 to 42 inches wide. If the room is 145 to 224 square feet, shop for fans in the 44- to 50-inch range. If the room is 225 to 400 square feet, choose a fan 50 to 54 inches wide. If the room is larger than 400 square feet, choose a fan 60 inches wide or larger, or consider hanging multiple ceiling fans.

Don’t Forget to Factor in Your Ceiling Height

It’s also important to consider the height of your ceilings when you’re shopping for new ceiling fans. If you have low ceilings (under nine feet), shop for a low-profile fan. This style of fan hugs the ceiling, so you can still hang a ceiling fan in a low-ceilinged room and have it at least seven feet off the floor.

If you have normal height ceilings (about nine feet), you will need a fan with a downrod. The downrod that comes with most high-profile ceiling fans is about a foot long and should do fine for rooms with nine-foot ceilings. However, if your ceilings are higher than nine feet, you should buy a downrod extension kit. There needs to be at least eight inches between the blades and the ceiling and 18 inches between the blades and the wall, so if you have a slanted ceiling, a downrod kit can help you create the space you need around the fan.

Consider How You Plan to Use the Fan

If you’re hanging a ceiling fan in your low-ceilinged bedroom, then pull-chain controls might be fine for your needs. But if you’re hanging a fan in a large room with high ceilings, where you can’t just reach up and easily grab the pull chains, you might need to consider other control options. You can get an electrician to connect your ceiling fan to the wall light switch, but many modern ceiling fans come with wireless wall control kits so you can turn your fan off and on from the wall without the need for any wiring. You could also go for a smart fan that connects to your smart home or smartphone for ease of use.

The new ceiling fan you choose for your home can make a big difference to your comfort in years to come. Take the time to make the right decision, so your ceiling fan can make your home better, not worse.

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