Ceiling fans can save energy by circulating air and making your home feel cooler so you don't have to run the air conditioner as much.
Since every home is different, there is not one ceiling fan that is best for every situation.
In order to select the best ceiling fan for your particular room in your home, consider the following interior designer tips & tricks.
photo courtesy of Brian J. Geiger flickr.com/photos/ninja-bear/7873115722/Width
Most ceiling fans are sized by their diameter from the tip of one blade to the tip of another.
A 52 inch ceiling fan is best for a standard bedroom or medium sized family room.
A smaller room should use a smaller fan and a larger room should use a larger fan.
If your room is very large or rectangular in shape, you might need multiple fans.
Height
If your ceiling height is 8 foot or less, you should get a ceiling fan with a really short downrod, or a ceiling fan that is a ceiling hugger without a downrod at all might be best.
If you have a taller ceiling, you should get a long downrod to lower the bottom of your ceiling fan to approximately 8 foot from the floor for the fan to function its best. If you are more concerned about aesthetics than air flow, you can mount your ceiling fan higher so it is more out of sight - the air flow should still be good but not as promised in the specifications.
If your family is taller than average or your ceiling is shorter than 8 foot, opt for a fan without a light kit and with a low profile that hangs down from the ceiling minimally.
Airflow
Most ceiling fans will list their high speed airflow on the box.
Select a ceiling fan with a high airflow for the best performance.
An interior designer tip is to not judge a fan by how fast or slow it appears to be spinning, but by how much air it moves. Some slow moving fans put out a lot of air!
Indoor or Outdoor
If you want a ceiling fan for inside your home, you can use an indoor or outdoor fan.
If you want a fan for outside of your home, you must select one that is rated for outdoors.
Be aware that fans are rated for dry location, damp location, outdoor covered locations, and wet location, so ensure that you get the correct fan depending on where you will have it.
Light Kit
Decide if you want a light attached to your fan.
If you want a light kit, decide if you want to see the light bulbs for maximim light and ease of changing the bulbs, or if you would prefer they be covered and look better aesthetically.
A ceiling fan light kit with covered light bulbs generally does not put out as much light, which may be ideal to reduce glare in a home with ceilings less than 9 foot tall.
Be aware of the type, maximum wattage, and quantity of light bulbs allowed in the light kit and how much light passes through the covering to ensure the light kit will give off enough light.
Read if the light bulbs are included with the fan or if you have to purchase them separately.
Most interior designers prefer covered light bulbs, but avoid the unattractive "boob" light where the metal connection point is in the center of the glass dome.
Finishes
There are many different ceiling fan finishes available today, not just antique gold with oak blades.
The ceiling fan body can be most any color metal or a material other than metal.
The blades can be wood, metal, plastic, or other unique finishes.
Some people prefer a fan that coordinates with their room's decor, while others prefer a fan to be solid white so it blends into the ceiling color.
Most interior designers agree that ceiling fans are utilitarian and rather ugly. Designers prefer to use a ceiling fan that is the same color, or nearly the same color, as the ceiling so it is less obtrusive since a ceiling fan should not be the focal point of a room.
Style
A traditional ceiling fan is about 52 inches wide with 5 blades in a wood tone and a light kit that is either an inverted bowl or 4 light bulbs surrounded by individual glass cups.
Those traditional ceiling fans are still available, but there are so many more unique and fun ceiling fan style options.
You can find ceiling fans that have 2 fans blowing in different directions.
Some ceiling fans look like sculptures that belong in a museum.
There are ceiling fans that look like bathroom exaust fans and recess into the ceiling.
You can purchase a ceiling fan that looks like a light fixture, but open like a flower into a fan when turned on.
Other light fixture fans are shaped like a donut and have the fan inside and somewhat out of sight.
Some more exotic fans have multiple leaves that swing back and forth and look very tropical.
There are even ceiling fans with large crystal chandeliers hanging from them.
There are gigantic fans and small fans.
You can get a fan that is unique and attention grabbing.
Combination chandeliers and fans, called fandeliers, are becoming very popular.
An interior designer tip is to consider how often your ceiling fan will be in use and spinning (my guess is nearly all the time), then consider how the style looks when it is spinning, not just when it is stationary.
Accessories
When purchasing your ceiling fan, decide if you would like any accessories.
Ceiling fan remote controls are a popular option as well as decorative pull chains and ceiling medallions #ad.
Look Online
Before going to the store to purchase your fan, look online at your local big box stores, as well as online stores like Amazon #ad.
You can comparison shop for ceiling fans between stores to find the best price.
Another reason to shop online is to read the customer comments to learn about quirks the fan might have, such as whether it is hard to install, whether it is prone to breaking, if it wobbles, if it is noisy, or other issues it may have.
You might even find an online special that is cheaper than the store price.
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