Affordable Modern Fans

Ceiling fans are tough. I love them because they circulate the air and make spaces feel cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter without adding much conditioned air and without having a bulky window fan sitting on the dresser which we’ve had for the past 4 years. I don’t love them so much because they don’t usually look that good, and if they do look good, they’re $$$$.

We are installing three fans in the house: one in each bedroom and one in the living room. So I’ve spent a good deal of time searching the internets for some nice looking fans that aren’t going to break the bank. Here are the contenders:

Aluma | Plum | Monte Carlo | Ball | Roto | Kichler

In the market for a new ceiling fan (or three)? Here are some things to consider while fan shopping:

Finish

These are all shown in stainless but they also come in white and some in other finishes. I originally was thinking I wanted the bedroom fans in white so they blended in more with the ceiling, but now I’m not so sure we’d have to do that. We also think the two bedroom fans should match since they are adjacent to each other, but the living room fan wouldn’t have to.

Size

The size of fan you should buy depends on the size of your room. Check out this article for some great information on sizing your ceiling fan and also considers ceiling height and adjacency to other lighting fixtures and walls. The second bedroom needs a 42-44″ fan while the master bedroom needs a 50-54″ fan, so if we want them to match, we’ll need to find a fan that comes in multiple blade spans.

Light Kit

Not all fans come with light kits! And some light kits drastically change the look of the fan. I love the look of the Plum fan above, but when you add the light kit it looks like its laying an egg. To add another challenge to our fan situation, the second bedroom fan will not have a light since we’re putting cans in that room for better office lighting, and the Master Bedroom will have a light with the fan. So if you’re keeping track, we now need a fan that comes in multiple sizes and has a light kit option.

Functionality

Some fans have operable speeds and some don’t. Also, some of the lights are dimmable, and some are not. So make sure you understand exactly how you want to use your fan and check the functionality options before you buy! Some fans even come with remote controls so you can adjust the speed and brightness without have to walk over to the switch on the wall. That could be cool, but it also could just be another thing you’ll have to keep track of.

Who knew there were so many things to pay attention to when buying a ceiling fan! We haven’t made our final fan decisions yet, lights are going to get installed soon so we better get on it! Which one would you get?