Are Ceiling Fans the Kiss of Death for Design?
Ceiling fans get a bad rap for being clunky and outdated, but these streamlined styles and a bevy of pros beg to differ
Are ceiling fans design suicide? I say “hardly,” and the Houzz community agrees! This has been a hot topic on the Houzz Discussions Board ever since Houzzer sunshinesarah posted this cry for design help:
My husband and I are building our first home. He has graciously let me have my way on nearly every decision thus far. Except CEILING FANS … he insists we install ceiling fans in all four bedrooms for air circulation, energy efficiency, etc. The home we live in now has ceiling fans and we actually use them daily. However, it seems that every design show I watch or magazine I read is of the opinion that ceiling fans are the #1 design No-No. Would installing ceiling fans be committing design suicide? Do I try to camouflage them by going with white to match the ceiling or dark to match doorknobs and trim? Lights or no lights? Five blades or four? HELP!
All of us who watched Trading Spaces back in the day probably have this neurosis. In the defense of those designers, most of the fans they ripped out were horrendously outdated, wobbly, dusty messes. Had Laurie and Hildy had the choices available today from places like Fanimation, and a budget of more than $1,000 for the entire room, they might have replaced the old fans with one of these fresh new designs.
My husband and I are building our first home. He has graciously let me have my way on nearly every decision thus far. Except CEILING FANS … he insists we install ceiling fans in all four bedrooms for air circulation, energy efficiency, etc. The home we live in now has ceiling fans and we actually use them daily. However, it seems that every design show I watch or magazine I read is of the opinion that ceiling fans are the #1 design No-No. Would installing ceiling fans be committing design suicide? Do I try to camouflage them by going with white to match the ceiling or dark to match doorknobs and trim? Lights or no lights? Five blades or four? HELP!
All of us who watched Trading Spaces back in the day probably have this neurosis. In the defense of those designers, most of the fans they ripped out were horrendously outdated, wobbly, dusty messes. Had Laurie and Hildy had the choices available today from places like Fanimation, and a budget of more than $1,000 for the entire room, they might have replaced the old fans with one of these fresh new designs.
Minka Aire Cirque George Kovacs Ceiling Fan, Silver
It’s been fun to watch ceiling fan design take on unexpected shapes and finishes.
It is important to pick the right fan for your space in terms of style and proportion. A cathedral ceiling in a large-scale room offers an opportunity to add something big and bold, making the fan a major design element.
The Palisade Double Ceiling Fan adds to the British colonial flair of this beach house. The pitched ceiling allows for its large size, making the scale appropriate.
See the rest of this home
See the rest of this home
Minka Aire F577-WH Concept 52 in. Outdoor Ceiling Fan - White
Of course, not all fans need to be attention grabbers. This one from Minka Aire is a favorite of interior designer Charmean Neithart because it blends into the ceiling and is easy to decorate around. It's also very quiet.
“Lights or no lights?” asks sunshinesarah. Before I started to research today’s fans with lights, I was biased against them. Then I realized I wasn’t even noticing the lights in today’s ceiling fans, because they are so streamlined and contemporary. If your room needs overhead light, why not get some from your fan? The more old-fashioned ceiling fans with five bulbs covered with glass shades will shake, rattle and collect dust; the new fans with a subtly incorporated light source are quiet.
Speaking of quiet, interior designer Cynthia Taylor-Luce brought up a great point: "There should be a decibel rating for the fan noise so pay attention to that, especially for bedrooms."
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Shop for this fan
Ceiling fans do not need to hang from the middle of the ceiling. Here, lanterns occupy the center line of this outdoor room's ceiling, while Old Havana fans circulate the air from the sidelines.
If you have an aversion to the usual fan-blade shape, consider the sleek industrial look provided by caged ceiling fans.
In a large, open space, a ceiling fan is very effective in circulating air throughout the house.
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Shop for this fan
Tip: If you're ready to make your fan a design element in the room, think about it as you would a modern mobile. The unique curved blades of this fan are eye catching and contemporary.
This sleek ceiling fan blends in because it's white, but it has a presence that's similar to that of a midcentury modern light fixture such as a Nelson Pendant Light.
A fan with a light serves two functions on a porch.
There’s a fan for every style. This one recalls barn lights and thus is an appropriate choice for a farmhouse.
Consult a lighting designer if you’re not sure which style is right for your space
There’s a fan for every style. This one recalls barn lights and thus is an appropriate choice for a farmhouse.
Consult a lighting designer if you’re not sure which style is right for your space
You can go beyond hardware when coordinating a fan to the rest of the room. The light wood of this fan coordinates with the larger pieces of furniture.
Shop Harbor Breeze 52-Inch Avian Ceiling Fan, Brushed Nickel
You don’t have to spend a fortune to have stylish fan. Plain white fans can be found for less than $50, while this elegant honey-tone fan is currently priced at $116.
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Those of us who are a little vain can still win with ceiling fans, because their design has come a very long way in the past few years. This fan is a sculptural work of art.