What type of ceiling fan you buy says something about you. Are you looking for a no-frills, affordable, basic fan that will do a good job circulating air? Are you looking splurge and add a highly functional piece of equipment to your ceiling that also adds aesthetic benefits?
Are you looking to blow people away?
Designer ceiling fans cost over $1,000. Basic ceiling fans cost a few hundred dollars.
How to Choose a Ceiling Fan
Now that you are aware of the different types of ceiling fans by price range, you’re ready to go deeper into the variables that can drive your buying decision. Here are some tips and tricks to guide you on the journey to find the perfect ceiling fan for your home.
Considerations Before Buying a Ceiling Fan
Location of the fan
The most important thing to consider when choosing a ceiling fan is the location of the fan and where you’ll use it. The most common fan placement is in the living room or bedroom. If you decide to put your fan in a bedroom, then you’re going to want to take a few extra steps to ensure that the fan can be heard but not seen while you sleep.
Ceiling Height
The height of your ceiling will also affect your choice of fan. To determine whether you have a low, medium or high ceiling, you’ll want to look for your ceiling’s architectural features. If your ceiling has a lot of overhead lighting, you’ll probably have a low ceiling. If you have a cathedral ceiling, then you’ll probably have a very high ceiling. If you have a normal ceiling, then it’s probably somewhere in between.
To determine whether you have a low, medium or high ceiling, you’ll want to look for your ceiling’s architectural features (or grab a measuring tape).
If your ceiling has a lot of overhead lighting, you’ll probably have a low ceiling. If you have a cathedral ceiling, then you’ll probably have a very high ceiling.
Low Ceiling: under 8 feet
Medium Ceiling: 8-11 feet
High Ceiling: 11 feet and higher
Blade Pitch Blade
Pitch is the angle at which the blades are pitched on your fan. The higher the pitch, the more air a fan can move. If you have a high or cathedral ceiling, you’ll want to buy a fan with a higher blade pitch. If you have a low ceiling, you’ll want to buy a fan with a lower pitch.
If you choose a fan that has a high blade pitch for a low ceiling, you’ll end up with a lot of wind noise. If you choose a fan that has a low blade pitch for a high ceiling, you’ll end up feeling inefficient airflow. To figure out the blade pitch for your ceiling, measure the distance from the top down to the floor.
Blade Size
The size of your fan’s blades will also affect the look and feel of the fan. If you have a high ceiling, you should use a big fan with big blades. If you have a low ceiling, you should use a fan with smaller blades. If you choose a fan with small blades for a high ceiling, the fan will look like it’s hanging from the ceiling. If you choose a fan with big blades for a low ceiling, the blades will look like they’re going to hit the floor.
Blade Finish
Blade finish refers to the color or finish of the blades. Finishes come in many different color options, from a glossy white to a matte black.
Blade Material
The material that you choose for your fan’s blades will affect the overall look and feel of the fan. Most blades are made from wood or plastic. You should choose a fan with blades made from the same material as the fan’s body. If you choose a fan with plastic blades for a wood fan, then the fan will look cheap. If you choose a fan with wood blades for a plastic fan, then the fan will look mismatched. If you’re not sure which material is best for your fan, then you should choose a fan with wood blades.
Mounting Options
The mounting options for your fan will affect which fans you can use in your home. There are two basic mounting options: ceiling mounts and downrods. A ceiling mount is a fan that’s mounted to your ceiling. Ceiling mounts are the most common choice for ceiling fans because they’re easily installed and do not require any labor intensive installation. A downrod requires a higher ceiling and a long rod that connects the fan to the fan’s base, which is attached to the ceiling itself.
