Dear Jenny: What to do with ceiling fans?

Spring arrived with a vengeance and suddenly I want to buy more fans and crank up the AC! Apparently we've all got the same problem, because I got about ten Dear Jenny submissions about ceiling fans! Here's one of them:

We live in Texas, which I think has fantastic weather, but for certain, July and August are hot, hot, hot. It is basically a requirement that the rooms upstairs have ceiling fans to try and keep energy costs down in the hot months. All of the bedrooms are upstairs in my house, and though I would love to put an amazing light fixture in every room, it is just not practical. I look through magazines and style books, and there are no ceiling fans in sight! How can a ceiling fan be stylish and work in a space?

It's true. Ceiling fans are not the prettiest of room accessories. I was raised in Arizona though, so I know first hand how necessary they are in many homes.

I think the best rule of thumb for ceiling fan purchases is to keep it really really simple. No matter how much you spend, I don't really think ceiling fans can look cool or pretty. So go for less conspicuous, like Darryl Carter and Steven Gambrel did here:





Also, I know a lot of times this isn't an option, but if there is any way you can use a fan with no light kit, I much prefer that look. My very favorite is this fan. It's really (shockingly) inexpensive, has great reviews and looks very streamlined.


One trick I've seen used is to paint your fan the color of your ceiling (motor, blades and all). That would be easy with something simple like this fan with a light.


If you have to keep the light kit on the fan, my favorite solution is to add a drum shade to cover up those often-ugly ceiling fan lights.

Better Homes and Gardens


Dwellers without Decorators

What about you readers, any favorite good-looking ceiling fans? Or how have you upgraded your old fixtures to be less offensive?
on

52 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 26, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    When we moved into our house there was a hideous ceiling fan in the Master Bedroom. (dark wood with brass, need I say more?) We replaced it with an all white smaller fan that blended right in with the ceiling. Now I don't even notice it that much.

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  2. pve designApril 26, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    I love ceiling fans in bedrooms or on porches to keep the air circulating and love the one's you posted along with the hugger.
    pve

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  3. pattyApril 26, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    I am with you... buy ceiling fans from Minka Aire or Modern Fan Company. These are such improvements over the faux-plantation rattan-and-fluted-glass look the big box stores have been promoting for the past 3 decades. I have 4 Modern fans and 1 Minka fain in my home and function trumps form in this case.

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  4. AndreaApril 26, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    I think a ceiling fan on a porch is great, but we don't have any in our home. Love the examples you showed.

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  5. laxsupermomApril 26, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    Last month I had posted a pic of a not so obtrusive ceiling fan light that I happened to spy at Lowes. The problem is that it's so small it'd only work for a smallish room - like an office.

    Love the modern looking streamlined ones that you posted. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. layersofmeaningApril 26, 2011 at 8:34 AM

    We have the Monte Carlo fan in our bedroom - LOVE IT!

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  7. AnneApril 26, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    There's only one ceiling fan in our house - in the master bedroom. It's white, though, and seems to blend in with whatever color the ceiling is if I keep the ceiling color pale enough. Thank goodness. I barely notice it.

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  8. SaraApril 26, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    We have 3(!!!) in our house and because we will be moving soon and 2 of the 3 were new when we bought the house, it's just not in our plan to replace them, so I LOVE the drum shade idea! This is going on my to-do list!

    I have been planning to paint the one on my screened porch white, the same color as the ceiling, like you suggested, but I didn't think I could paint the motor. Do you have any suggestions about how to do that safely?

    Thanks!!

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  9. sarah / book bound binderyApril 26, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    As always, Jenny, I love your ideas! We live in Texas and have a ceiling fan in EVERY room. It's hot. I love the drum shade idea.

    It wasn't in our budget to replace them when we bought the house, so my husband spray painted them and they turned out great.

    His tutorial is on my blog
    http://sarahnielsen.com/2009/09/ceiling-fan-transformation/

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  10. AnonymousApril 26, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    I had the dark wood/brass ceiling fans that came with the house(pure horror) and after years of being disgusted every time I looked at them I decided to change the shades to simple glass (instead of the dated looking frosted ones we had) and I primed and spray painted them white so they blend with the ceiling. I've also found that it helps if they are flush mounted so they don't make the ceilings feel lower.

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  11. life, in small chunksApril 26, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    Just wanted to say thank you for being one of the few designers who understand that sometimes, in some parts of the country you MUST have ceiling fans, and for trying to make the best of them! I agree about trying to use fans that don't have light fixtures, too. I have to have ceiling fans in our bedrooms, but have used only inconspicuous fans without lights. Thanks again! Karin

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  12. Brandi@ Flights of WhimsyApril 26, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    I really want to get rid of the one in my master. I live in Texas too so I was thinking of buying a vintage looking table fan. We only use the fan at night anyways so I don't think it would be a big deal to get rid of it.

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  13. courtneyApril 26, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    Love the idea of adding the drum shade to a fan with a light kit--any info about how to do this??

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  14. Andrea @ strawberry-chicApril 26, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    We have a hideous fan in our dinning room, but we are living in a rental for probably only another 8 months so there is no use in spending the money to replace it. But I loved your tips, and agree that fans without lights are much more attractive!

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  15. RinaApril 26, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    My husband and I were JUST talking about getting a fan, but I don't like the way they look. Thanks for giving us some practical suggestions to make it look a bit better!

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  16. UnknownApril 26, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    Love the drum shade idea-- and for acknowledging that where it's hot, you really might need a fan. We live in FL and our electric bill would be through the roof it we didn't also use fans, especially in the bedrooms. I love an all white Hunter in the bedroom myself. They last a long time and are pretty unobtrusive.

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  17. Alicia@ eco friendly homemakingApril 26, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    I agree I love ceiling fans.We have them in all of the bedrooms and our family room. Really helps out with keeping the cool air circulating.Wanted to also let you know that I have hit a milestone on my blog and am having an all natural organic giveaway. I hope you will enter.

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  18. Jenny at LGNApril 26, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    Courtney - there are some (I think too expensive) kits you can buy to add a drum shade with a diffuser disk. I think they're like $200 or something! Yikes.

    It's an easy DIY though, if you're able to fit the right shade or if you have one custom made. You'll need a shade that is completely cylindrical. No sloping on the sides. And one that has the hardware that mounts on the bulb socket, not a harp. Then you hang the shade on the fan light bulb upside down (that's why it's important to find a shade with no sloping).

    xx

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  19. AnnApril 26, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    We live in Southern California, and have fans in most rooms. We just bought a Fanimation Windpointe with natural palm leaf blades, and I love the look. We removed the light kits on our remaining fans, except one, and I am going to try to adapt the natural palm blades to the other fan styles. My husband says it can't be done, but I must find out for myself. We had to leave the light in the dining room, so I intend to try to drum shade idea, which is great.

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  20. MeredithApril 26, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    We went the drum shade route in our master bedroom:
    http://welcometoheardmont.com/2011/03/spring-bedroom-redo/

    Since the shade was sloped, we had to wire it to the base of the fan instead of attaching it by the bulb. We still love how it turned out!

    Love your Dear Jenny posts!
    Meredith @ Welcome to Heardmont

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  21. AnonymousApril 26, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    I like a super simple fan the color of the ceiling with NO light kit. The part where the blades connect to the motor needs to be plain and I prefer not to see that open grill venting that so many fans have on the bottom. My fans totally blend into the ceiling. Casablanca has a few that fit the bill if you look hard enough.

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  22. Suze Yalof SchwartzApril 26, 2011 at 12:03 PM

    GREAT POST THANKS FOR INCLUDING MY CEILING FAN. HERE IS HOW YOUR READERS CAN DO IT

    Hate your ceiling Fan's hideous light fixture
    This is where I had a drum made to hang under my ceiling fan that was featured in Domino
    Ira:
    516-384-2487

    See below my ceiling fan makeover - sooo much better no? This was shot for Domino in my old apartment.

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  23. Ella A.April 26, 2011 at 12:25 PM

    I think ceiling fans can look really cool. I especially love the really modern ones or the ones that look like they have paddles or big leaves for arms. But I guess I am from AZ where I am just used to seeing them all the time. There are some hideous ones for sure!

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  24. AnonymousApril 26, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Thrifty Decor Chic just did a great tutorial last week on adding a drum shade to your existing fan...
    http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/04/prettying-up-ceiling-fan.html

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  25. CaseyApril 26, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    Perfect timing on this post! I just moved in to a new house and there are ceiling fans in both of the bedrooms. While they are fairly tame, design-wise (unlike some I’ve had to live with: brass with 5 bulbs with ruffled glass shades!) I’d still like to make them look a little better. I have a spare drum shade so I’m going to try to make it work on the fan in my workroom. I think it might be fun to paint or tape some stripes on the inside to make it a little more interesting. Should I remove the round glass shade that houses the bulb, or should I leave it on?

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  26. booApril 26, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    YES - it's hard to find an attractive fan!! I recently did a post on this issue as well - http://bywaterboo.blogspot.com/2011/02/fans-not-fan.html

    I think the fans without lights look a little better - we installed can lights so the fans do not need lights...

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  27. natashaApril 26, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    Thanks for this post. I love that you found pictures of beautiful rooms that incorporate ceiling fans. I'm surprised that everyone is against them despite the "green" trend. They lower heat and AC bills and are a necessity in hot Florida!

    The drum shade idea is ingenious and I love the modern looking fans you found!

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  28. Stephanie SabbeApril 26, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    yay! I'm not. NO one has AC in Boston. I think I'm breaking down and getting a fan for the bedroom this summer.

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  29. Mrs. OlsenApril 26, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    Oh yes--I have a not so great ceiling fan--but of all things, found a beautiful vintage painted glass fixture that fit perfectly $5.00 at a garage sale in an old neighborhood. Suddenly my ceiling fan went from yuck to wow. Though mine is vintage, one could find a generic glass fixture at home depot and paint it with glass paint and it might do the trick...

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  30. NestBlissApril 26, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    I have never lived without them. So I guess they don't really matter to me. I think that there are some really nice options and antique bronze always seems to blend better to me than shiny silver and white fans are fine but if they are run a lot they get dirty blades that even after wiping show. But really I don't mind a ceiling fan and I haven't seen a really bad 80's one in a long time.

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  31. TrisApril 26, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    Hi Jenny. First time commenter here. Love your blog! My husband (a green architect) and I live in Utah and we have 5 indoor ceiling fans and 1 outdoor. 3 of ours are actually featured in your blog post! The others are Hubbardton Forge brand, purchased at Costco for a fraction. They look awesome--almost a vintage industrial look. They have an uplight and shine on our coffered ceilings. We have had many comments from people saying that they didn't know a ceiling fan could look so good. They are also very practical and save us loads on our utility bill. It really is possible to have ceiling fans (carefully chosen, like you said) and have your rooms look great. Thanks for the timely post.

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  32. Kacey @ shes.no.marthaApril 26, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    This might be a dumb question, but if you get the drum shade that you just turn upside down and clip it to the bulb, won't it be too heavy and just fall right off? Maybe not, but that it what I first thought of. If not, I am going for it!!

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  33. Jenny at LGNApril 26, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    Kacey - I wouldn't recommend using a clip on shade. The is a shade with a metal fitting that sits between the socket and the light bulb. It would be very secure.

    xx

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  34. CandiceApril 26, 2011 at 4:55 PM

    My twin and I just replaced our old navajo white ceiling fans in our bedrooms. The new ones are white with a matte finish and they blend in perfectly with our antique white ceilings. Alice and I joke that we want chandeliers by day and fans by night. We need some magic to make that happen! These fans were supposed to take 5 minutes to install. The first one took five minutes plus five hours and the second took one hour. Oh, and we live in Phoenix, AZ so the fans are a must!

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  35. kelleypApril 26, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    in phoenix a ceiling fan is a must. we have ours going full time even in the winter! we always buy white fans, NO light kit (horribly ugly), and since we have a ranch style house NO arm, just ceiling mounted. this makes it much less obtrusive. the least expensive, but very well made are the $39.99 hampton bay one at Home depot. i don't like the ones with remotes as the remotes get lost, like mine with the "old fashion" chain pulls.

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  36. Kacey @ shes.no.marthaApril 26, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    thanks, Jenny! Like an UNO threaded fitter? Man, those are hard to find anymore!

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  37. Jenny at LGNApril 26, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    Yup - an uno shade. They're not that hard to find. Lamps plus sells them and Target actually only sells those (None of their shades use harps).

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  38. pimp my bricksApril 26, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    I keep reading that ceiling fans are ugly, ugly, ugly. And I do think that with lighting attachments they are, indeed, awful. Or if they are plastic with fake cane - even awfuller. But the right fans can actually be gorgeous - Cinni fans are very evocative of the tropics, and there's something about the lazy sweep of the right ceiling fan which is completely romantic. I think.

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  39. AmandaApril 26, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    I am having trouble emailing you a message, so I'm hoping {fingers crossed} you'll read my comment...

    Do you have any recommendations on great websites to buy or view fabrics online for say a little girl's bedroom? Thought you might know! Thanks!

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  40. StaceyApril 26, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    Two ideas from a Southerner. 1.) Restoration Hardware has some fairly expensive but nice looking fans for a room you don't want to scrimp on. 2.) My parents have 3 antique ceiling fans that are to die for. They bought them at antique stores, some came from old hotels, some from old homes. These are obviously hard to find and when you do, they are HEAVY but gorgeous. Wish they still made things like they used to. Maybe try ebay or something.

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  41. ReneeApril 26, 2011 at 6:59 PM

    As long as it doesn't look like a nipple, I think you're good. But if I have a choice, I say go with something that blends into the ceiling. And no giant leaves.

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  42. AnonymousApril 26, 2011 at 7:07 PM

    I live in North Queensland, Australia and fans are essential in every room. But, it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice a pretty light fixture. We put a simple white fan with no light in the centre of the room (for efficiency purposes) and then put a pretty feature light in a corner (about 0.8m from each wall). The fan is subtle so the light is still the first thing you see. It's not quite as nice as a centred chandelier but it still looks great!

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  43. StaceyApril 26, 2011 at 7:14 PM

    Wow! Try this site! Beautiful fans! http://www.matthewsfanco.com/Matthews%20Pages/Vent-Bettina%20Gallery.html

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  44. katiedidApril 26, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    You are so right, sometimes necessary....but as inconspicuous as possible! Great solutions.

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  45. travelkateApril 26, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    We just moved to Texas and are building a house and my husband has stressed the importance of ceiling fans for the summer! Normally, I am not such a fan, but it's a necessity-so I hope to just ignore them :)

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  46. Jesse {wefancythat.blogspot.com}April 26, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    Fans are a must in bedrooms, and I totally agree with Jenny, skip the light kit all together and use lamps for lighting in the room! The more simple the better!

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  47. DaynaApril 26, 2011 at 11:03 PM

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this often ignored subject! So often they are hideous. I have an upcoming project that involves a ceiling fan and you've given me a few ideas...

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  48. AmyApril 28, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Hi Jenny, I was one of the ten that emailed you about fans. Thanks so much for this post. I'm going with your advice and getting white fans w/o lights. I just saw this pic and almost missed the fan so that's good design! http://lonnymag.com/decorate/living_rooms

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  49. JillianMay 1, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    I love this post topic. With energy costs rising, it's really not practical to forgo ceiling fans for a pretty light fixture any more. I can't imagine doubling our summer electric bill just because I think fans are ugly. We always try to go with the most streamlined options, and my favorite brand is Hampton Bay. They're easy to install and really quiet. Would I rather have a chandelier over my bed...absolutely. But do I think all ceiling fans are "hideous" and in terrible taste? No.

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  50. Lucinda+BluebirdMay 1, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    So funny that I read this post tonight...we just put up a new fan in our living room this weekend! It's the Harbor Breeze - Saratoga (oil rubbed bronze) from Lowes. It's big, but I love the style! It has a linen glass globe and the blades look hand carved. Plus there's a remote, so no pull chains!

    LOVE your blog! :)
    Jen

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  51. casey at loft and cottageMay 2, 2011 at 3:14 PM

    I love what ceiling fans can do functionally but not so much decoratively ;-) I put a drum shade on my fan in the kitchen--and it helps the decor a lot! http://loftandcottage.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-kitchen-redo-big-changes-on-tiny.html

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  52. Danielle @ Transforming HomeMay 2, 2011 at 10:07 PM

    We have a ceiling fan above our kitchen table. I would love a really cool lantern in that space, but our home is an open layout and that fan is great in the warm months. We can even leave the AC off and turn the fan on when the room gets stuffy. I rigged a huge drum shade from restoration hardware to cover up the 4 lights on it and like it much, much better. It looks like the picture from BH&G on your post. I received a very not-nice comment about my "drum shade fan" from a blogger but brushed it off. Now I feel a TON better about it since I have seen it here on your blog and know that it is in BH&G! Thanks!!

    Danielle

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I so appreciate hearing from you. Nice comments make my day! Thanks for keeping things light here, friends! :)