A ceiling fan can make a room more inviting and comfortable. But how do you know which one to choose for your home? From size to style, here’s how to choose the right ceiling fan to make a part of your home.
Choose the right size
The key to choosing the right size fan is to match the room size to the fan’s blade span (from tip to tip). For your smaller rooms (up to about 75 sq. ft.) such as bathrooms, breakfast nooks, or utility rooms, you’ll want to choose a blade span of 29” to 36”. In bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms (up to 175 sq. ft.), a blade span of 42” to 48” is ideal. For your larger spaces, like family rooms, media rooms, or large master bedrooms (up to 350 sq. ft.), go with a wider blade span of 52” to 56”. Finally, to cool a room of more than 350 sq. ft., like a great room or other large space, fans are available with blade spans of 60” or larger.
Consider your room and location
First, consider whether you will be enjoying your fan indoors or outdoors. All ceiling fans have an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rating to help you determine which to purchase based on the ceiling fan’s intended location. Dry-rated fans should always be selected for indoor spaces, and away from areas where moisture can accumulate. Wet or damp rated fans can be used either indoors or outdoors.
Also keep in mind that fans should be installed no lower than 7 to 8 feet from the floor, whether indoors or outdoors. For rooms with low ceilings, you will need a low profile or “hugger” fan that has a close or flush mount. This helps to keep the fan as high as possible. If you have a room with a ceiling less than 8 feet high, a ceiling fan is not recommended.
On the other hand, if you have a room with a high ceiling, you may need to add a downrod to bring your ceiling fan closer to the floor. A general formula for calculating downrod length is to take the ceiling height, subtract the height of the ceiling fan (most are between 12 and 18”) and then subtract the desired hanging height. This is usually 8 feet. For example, if your ceiling is 12 feet high, and your ceiling fan is 12 inches in height, you will need a 24 inch downrod to mount the ceiling fan between 8 and 9 feet above the floor.
Think about style
Ceiling fans come in just about every style – traditional, Victorian, mission, contemporary, and rustic. There are even windmill-style ceiling fans to choose from. This means that no matter the design style of your space, you’ll be able to match a ceiling fan to your existing look.
Another style question to consider is whether you want your fan to do double duty as a light fixture for the room. Some ceiling fans come with lights included. If your favorite does not, a light kit can be added to most. The adaptability of ceiling fan light kits will vary by manufacturer and by model. Finally, when installing, decide whether you want your light to be switched on at the fan itself, or separately.
If you need any help selecting the perfect ceiling fan for your space, or need a hand getting everything installed, give Cathey a call! We are here to help.
