Choosing the Perfect Chandelier Ceiling Fan for Your Space
Curating a beautiful home is an endlessly evolving project, and there is seemingly infinite potential when it comes to supporting your aesthetic and functional needs. A relatively easy and budget-friendly way to update your home is to elevate your lighting.
In our hot Florida climate, ceiling fans are non-negotiable for many of us. Heaven forbid that your air conditioning fails, you’ll be calling in backup from every fan in the home, built-in or stand-alone. Since ceiling fans aren’t always the most charming feature in a space, chandelier ceiling fans are a great way to keep your family comfortable while contributing to your fresh and sophisticated style.
Our electrical and lighting experts offer the ultimate guide to choosing the perfect chandelier ceiling fan for any space in the home.
Tips to Find the Best Chandelier Ceiling Fan for Your Space
Before you jump head-first into purchasing a chandelier ceiling fan on a whim, you’ll need to figure out if it will complement your space. We suggest finding out the following features:
1. Determine the Proper Size for Your Fixture
If you purchase a fixture that is too large or small, it will likely look strange in the room and create a weird, unbalanced overall interior design.
However, the problems with awkward measurements aren’t just aesthetic. It may fail to produce the desired airflow to keep your environment comfortable. A fan that is too large could create a wind tunnel while one that is too small may not make a difference at all.
Measure Your Space
Before you take any further steps, measure the square footage of your space. Multiply the length by the width. If your space is irregularly shaped, break it down into smaller squares and add up the calculations for each section.
Find Your Blade Span
The blade span of your chandelier ceiling fan is the full width across the blades. This measurement should align with your square footage.
Rooms less than 75 sq ft should have a blade span of less than 36 inches
Rooms between 76 and 144 sq ft should have a blade span between 36 and 44 inches
Rooms between 144 and 225 sq ft should have a blade span between 44 and 52 inches
Rooms between 225 and 400 sq ft should have a blade span between 50 and 72 inches
If your room is significantly larger than 400 square feet, you should consider installing multiple fans throughout the space.
Position Appropriately
When it comes to installing your fixture, there are some things to keep in mind. Regardless of where you place your fan, you should always leave at least inches between the tip of each blade to the adjacent wall.
If your room is long but skinny, you may need to install multiple smaller fans rather than one large one.
2. Consider Efficiency
Most modern chandeliers are designed with either four or five blades. The fewer blades on your fan, the less drag there is on the motor, which means saving money on your electricity bill. It will also provide more airflow, keeping your home cooler.
Fans with a greater number of blades provide less airflow but tend to make less ambient noise.
A fan with four or five blades tends to offer a happy balance of energy efficiency, comfort, and low noise.
3. Figure Out Your CFM Rating
The CFM, or cubic feet-per-minute, rating of your fan describes how much air the fan can move. The area of the room will determine what CFM rating you require.
Rooms less than 144 sq ft need 1,000-3,000 CFM
Rooms between 144 and 225 sq ft need 1,500 to 5,000 CFM
Rooms larger than 400 sq ft need 5,000 to 13,000 CFM
4. Contemplate Purchasing a Reversible Chandelier Ceiling Fan
While our weather might be more moderate here in Florida, we still have our chilly days. A reversible chandelier ceiling fan can save you up to 10% on heating costs by recirculating heat down.
Why spend money on heating at all when you can simply have a fan that does the job for you?
5. Explore Your Mounting Options
In addition to your square footage, you’ll need to take your ceiling height into consideration. The bottom of your chandelier should be a minimum of seven feet from the floor. Your mounting options will vary depending on how high your ceiling is.
The taller your space, the more room you will have both above and below your fixture.
For particularly tall or vaulted ceilings, you’ll likely need a rod to bring the chandelier lower down.
Keep in mind if you have ceilings lower than nine feet, a ceiling fan chandelier may not be the ideal fixture for your space.
Our electricians at Axiom Power can help you install your fixture and select the best mounting option for a secure, stylish setting. Call us to learn more!
6. Decide on Your Lighting
Chandelier ceiling fans are a two-for-one deal. You not only will benefit from better ventilation and airflow, but you will also have a source of light! Consider the various light sources in your room, such as:
Natural light from windows
Accent lights from decorative lamps
Ambient lighting from other fixtures
Additionally consider the purpose of the room. Is it an office or studio space where members of your family require task lighting or is it a more relaxing den space for watching TV and spending quality time with loved ones?
In our opinion, the best thing to do is install a dimmer. This way, you have control over the mood and functionality of the space depending on the activities at hand.
Get Inspired > Chandelier Trends for 2023
Brighten Up Your World with Our Custom Chandelier Contractors
Whether you want an understated and rustic fixture or something more ornate and “wowing,” a chandelier ceiling fan can serve as a gorgeous addition to any home. It is a practical solution for both style and comfort. With our suggestions above, you’ll have no trouble finding the best fit!
Whether you’ve already decided on your dream chandelier or need help selecting the right one, reach out to our lighting contractors at Axiom Power. We provide custom chandeliers and installations to brighten up your home with liveliness! Reach out to see how we can illuminate your world.