We recently moved into a new construction…woo-hoo! And although we didn’t get to customize the home from scratch, there are a few things we were tasked with picking out…like our ceiling fans.
I thought a fan was just a fan, and I had every intention of going in saying “Yeah, I’ll take a brown one.” Uh, yeah…I was wrong. It takes a little bit more than color preference to choose the fan that’s right for you.
I got to work with Kichler Lighting to choose the perfect ceiling fans for 3 of our bedrooms, and I learned alot along the way. If you’re new to shopping for a ceiling fan…
…here are 5 things you might not know about buying a ceiling fan.
1. Room Size Matters
Did you know the size of your room affects the size fan you’ll need? Of course, it seems obvious to me now….but who knew fans were so versatile? According to Kichler, once you know the square footage of your room, a good guide to go by is:
- Room sizes <90 sq ft: 15″-42″ fan blades
- Room sizes 90-100 sq ft: 44″-48″ fan blades
- Room sizes 100-150 sq ft: 50″-54″ fan blades
- Room sizes >150 sq ft: 56″ fan blades or larger
Since the kids’ rooms are just around 100 sq ft, we went with a 52″ fan for each of their rooms.
2. Airflow…huh?
Is your fan being used for light breeze on your patio? Or do you need it to do work to keep you cool in your bedroom at night?
Blade number, blade size, blade pitch, and motor size all affect a fan’s airflow.
Um, say what?
Don’t worry. Kichler provides spec sheets on all of their fans so you can easily compare airflow and airflow efficiency.
3. There Be Light…or Not.
To light or not to light? Personally, I feel like a fan without lights is like decaf coffee…what’s the point?
But still, it’s something to consider…do you even want a fan with a light or are you putting it where a light is unnecessary (like outside). You’ll find both options at most ceiling fan retailers. At Kichler, if you find a fan that you love, but it doesn’t include a light kit, most fans have the option to have a kit added.
4. Control Options
How do you want to control your fan? Chains, remotes, wall controls…those are all options and probably something you haven’t given much thought to. We love how our Kichler wall control has everything in one place: fan speed, light…AND if you hold the “light” button down, it dims the light. Fancy.
5. What’s Your Style?
Picking the style of your fan is the most fun, but it can kind of be overwhelming. Who knew there were so many styles of fans? Modern, traditional, transitional…huh? Like I said: I went in asking for a brown fan…
To make it easier, figure out what you’re trying to achieve in each room.
In the kids’ bedrooms, we just wanted a simple look. These Carlson LED fans are simple, traditional, and compliment both rooms nicely.
However, in our master bedroom, we wanted something more “farmhousey” and industrial, since that’s the look we’re going for in our bedroom. We absolutely love our Colerne LED fan from Kichler. It’s rustic, farmhouse appeal makes it more of a statement piece in the room, rather than just a tool.
One Last Thought…
My advice is to purchase your ceiling fan from a company that specializes in lighting and/or fans. They’re the experts and can answer all those questions you may have (or gently let you know that there are lots of other options besides “brown”).
The employees at Kichler walked me through the whole process of choosing the perfect fans for our new house, and I’m so happy I went with a company who specializes in exactly what I needed.
To learn more about Kichler, visit them here.
I received these fans as a gift from Kichler, but all statements and opinions are 100% my own.
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