Ceiling fan or chandelier?

[Susie]

Our family room has a vaulted ceiling, and has a (probably original) ceiling fan that I really dislike.  It's very 90s, and I suspect it isn't really big enough to do the job it was intended to do, i.e. circulate air in that large a space.
 


We've been in the house one summer, and so far I can't really tell a difference when it's on or off.  IDK whether winter will feel any different, or if a bigger fan would help.

I want to replace the fan, and am not sure whether I should shop for fan, a chandelier, or a lighted fan.  I've pinned a bunch of each, but I need to narrow down this basic functional distinction.  

From what I can see on zillow, all the similar houses in my neighborhood have fairly similar fans, some have been updated, but all just your basic 5 blade ceiling fan, some with lights.  No interesting ideas.  Either way I go, I'm looking for a significant aesthetic change, something like this:

(maybe not that exact one, I have to make sure it had adequate drop, but that look)

or some kind of chandelier, possibly something like this?



WWYD?  

The walls and floor are newly redone and painted, respectively.  I'm currently shopping for an area rug.  The fireplace is going to be redone soon (spring?), likely brick or stone, and the too-big mirror will come down as part of that.  (It is tiled to the wall.)  I'd also like to replace the white bookcases (brought from our old house) with actual built-ins as part of the fireplace project.  

[sb]

I am a fan person, so I'd go with a fan. But the one you have is probably too small and too high for a room that big.

We have the Big Ass Fans Haiku fans throughout our house and they work really well. They're pretty $$$ (previous owner put them in), but put out so much air and they look cool too.

[lessel]

I'm a fan person too. We have a big family room with a vaulted ceiling and have a fan in it. Ours is a pretty big fan... I agree you need one of a decent size. We definitely use it in the summer months because that side of the house gets afternoon heat and it warms up quite a bit.

[Susie]

Oct 12, 2021 9:49:44 GMT -5 lessel said:

 that side of the house gets afternoon heat and it warms up quite a bit.

That's us too; the double window behind the couch faces roughly WSW, so it gets warm in the afternoon.  

[redheadk]

I like a fan for air movement. It's too hot/muggy here to keep the windows open much.

[aprilsails]

Yes to a large modern ceiling fan with a light. I like fans a lot.

[deadwing]

I REALLY like the ceiling fan you linked. It's pretty and functional - how can you go wrong??

[dr.girlfriend]

I have one similar to the one you posted in a much higher ceiling and it ROCKS. We don't use it often but when we do it is super effective.

[Susie]

dr.girlfriend, what fan/brand do you have? how much light does it give off? Yours is along the vibe I was going for, and real world reviews are much appreciated.

[libbygrl109]

I'm a fan person, mainly because our house is at just the wrong angle so that the cross breeze is almost nonexistent, even with all of the windows and doors open, in the summer. Your current fan looks way too small for that space. The one you posted is very nice. As far as the chandelier - would you really use it? We have a light on our living room fan, but barely ever use it because we like lamp light better.

[dr.girlfriend]

Oct 12, 2021 13:49:27 GMT -5 Susie said:

dr.girlfriend , what fan/brand do you have? how much light does it give off? Yours is along the vibe I was going for, and real world reviews are much appreciated.

I'm surprised I found it!  :-)  It was one of the first things we ordered for our addition, apparently I got it from LampsPlus.  We don't really use the light much at all -- there's a ton of big windows in this room, plus the recessed lighting, plus reading lamps at each side of the bed.  I try to be sparing about using that fan light because I have no idea how I would ever replace it, I don't think it's a bulb.  Plus, it's like 20 feet above the room so I don't think it would help that much if all the other lights are not enough.  :-)  It does have a remote that controls both the fan and light.


Total cost
$370.94
Items
52" Minka Aire Light Wave Distressed Koa Ceiling Fan, 60" DOWNROD DISTRESSED KOA OUTDOOR 3/4" diameter

[Susie]

Oct 12, 2021 15:02:34 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Oct 12, 2021 13:49:27 GMT -5 Susie said:

dr.girlfriend , what fan/brand do you have? how much light does it give off? Yours is along the vibe I was going for, and real world reviews are much appreciated.

I'm surprised I found it!  :-)  It was one of the first things we ordered for our addition, apparently I got it from LampsPlus.  We don't really use the light much at all -- there's a ton of big windows in this room, plus the recessed lighting, plus reading lamps at each side of the bed.  I try to be sparing about using that fan light because I have no idea how I would ever replace it, I don't think it's a bulb.  Plus, it's like 20 feet above the room so I don't think it would help that much if all the other lights are not enough.  :-)  It does have a remote that controls both the fan and light.


Total cost
$370.94
Items
52" Minka Aire Light Wave Distressed Koa Ceiling Fan, 60" DOWNROD DISTRESSED KOA OUTDOOR 3/4" diameter

Yeah that will obviously be a key concern for us as well!  Our ceiling is a little over 12' at peak, so it's doable, but we might need to invest in a taller ladder.  We will definitely need someone to install it.

I know we will need more lights in the room than just a fan light and the existing directed lights by the fireplace, but I'm at an "every little bit helps" place.  The vaulted ceiling would be really difficult to retrofit can lights into, so I'm thinking fan light, standing task/reading light by the chair,  and maybe sconces somewhere?  Maybe along side the window?  I am working on a growing wish list for our electrician for this winter.

[dr.girlfriend]

www.lampsplus.com/products/52-inch-minka-aire-light-wave-distressed-koa-ceiling-fan__4n706.html

Just peeked at the reviews online and someone said it cost $100 to replace the light housing when it burned out after 3 years.  I suspect mine will last a lot longer than that given how rarely I use it.

[redheadk]

Oct 12, 2021 15:02:34 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Oct 12, 2021 13:49:27 GMT -5 Susie said:

dr.girlfriend , what fan/brand do you have? how much light does it give off? Yours is along the vibe I was going for, and real world reviews are much appreciated.

I'm surprised I found it!  :-)  It was one of the first things we ordered for our addition, apparently I got it from LampsPlus.  We don't really use the light much at all -- there's a ton of big windows in this room, plus the recessed lighting, plus reading lamps at each side of the bed.  I try to be sparing about using that fan light because I have no idea how I would ever replace it, I don't think it's a bulb.  Plus, it's like 20 feet above the room so I don't think it would help that much if all the other lights are not enough.  :-)  It does have a remote that controls both the fan and light.


Total cost
$370.94
Items
52" Minka Aire Light Wave Distressed Koa Ceiling Fan, 60" DOWNROD DISTRESSED KOA OUTDOOR 3/4" diameter

That's one of my concerns with a similar fan we are eyeing. They are LED lights and meant to not need replaced for some ridiculously long amount of time but they don't seem to actually last that long in reality. We have tall ceilings and will replace ours when we have scaffolding up for painting so replacing will be an issue.

[hbomdiggity]

I am not anti/fan, but my first thought after seeing your ceiling went to something just like the chandelier you posted.

[numbers]

I'm not a ceiling fan person, so I would 100% pick a streamlined circle chandelier like the one you posted.

[laterz]

Team Ceiling Fan.

[Susie]

dr.girlfriend, thanks.  I read the info on that fan, and I like it a lot, but the idea that I can't replace a bulb on a fan that high up seems like a non-starter.  I'll have to look and see if any others with a similar look are more modular in that regard.  

If not, the fan vs. light decision feels harder.  The room really needs more light, and sconces on the back wall will only help so much.

[sandandsea]

I like fans and we got rid of ours and went with a chandelier and have zero regrets.

One issue we had is that the lights available with ceiling fans nowadays are limited in their brightness and were all too dim to light a large space well enough. Something about the code changing and limiting power.

[rubytue]

I like the one you posted. If you want more air, longer blades.

We are replacing one in a vaulted ceiling with this fan www.1800lighting.com/matthews-fan-company-super-janet-60-inch-ceiling-fan-with-light-kit-2724735.html

I dislike fans (I get cold so easy, hate air blowing, and dislike the hum), but I also acknowledge I’m the rarity, and my h insisted on a fan. He (electrician) also said longer blades for more air.

[macmars45]

Ceiling fan for sure.

[themoneytree]

Chandelier vote here.
Love the one you posted - where is it from?

[Susie]

themoneytree, it's from Shades of Light: www.shadesoflight.com/products/industrial-farmhouse-chandelier?via=57e1330169702d78ae0000a5%2C57e1336e69702d78ae0002c6

[Roc A Bee]

It’s hot here so I’d vote fan. I like the style you posted.

[boiler717]

I am a fan person but prefer chandeliers in living rooms. I originally did a fan and replaced with a chandelier at our old house.

[Susie]

Man I thought I'd get clarity here, but I'm ending up feeling so conflicted still!  Lol.  I do appreciate all the comments.

I originally planned to do a fan with a light, but the more I think about it, and comments here are kind of confirming it, I'm probably not going to find a fan that a) has the look I want, b) provides enough light to make a difference, and c) has a light bulb I can swap out when it burns out.  I spent some time looking last night, and the integrated LEDs really seem to be the way most of them are made.  That seems kind of like a non-starter to me, for this location and for heavy use.

So if a ceiling fan with light kit isn't a great option, I have to pick ceiling fan (no light) vs. chandelier.

I am generally a 'fan person,' although we don't live in a particularly warm climate (northeast).  I would like a fan if I could have one.  We use the bedroom fans all year long.  I think they're less critical in living vs. sleeping spaces though.  "Want," not "need."

I feel like light is more of a need than a want though.  I struggle in winter with the short days, and light helps.  Dim rooms make me depressed.  I don't want that in my family room.  I can add sconces on the window wall, but aside from that I'm kind of at a loss.  I think the room really needs an overhead light.

So I think I am talking myself into a chandelier?  I am glad to hear that others have done that, because like I said, every single house in our hood with a similar setup has stuck with a fan.  It made me feel like I'd definitely miss it if I gave it up.

[dr.girlfriend]

Sorry to do this to you, but any reason recessed lighting in that room is not an option? I have put recessed lighting in three rooms now and never regretted the decision for a minute, even for rooms that also have a central light fixture. It is literally life-changing. There were rooms I hated to be in that are now my favorite rooms mostly because of the recessed lighting difference.

Before (e.g., The Cave):



After: Main difference -- recessed lighting, white paint, and modifications to the built-ins



Sounds like you already have an electrician, I would 100% recommend doing the ceiling fan you want and then recessed lighting with a dimmer.

[Susie]

dr.girlfriend, we are not entertaining recessed lighting for this space.  We did it ourselves in the family room of our last house, so I know what a difference it can make.  But in that house we were able to change bulbs with a standard ladder or a chair when they died.  In this room, we'd need a taller ladder than we currently own, just to change bulbs as they burn out.  It's not a maintenance issue I aspire to create.  A light that hangs would at least be a couple feet lower and more accessible.  Plus, retrofitting recessed lighting into a vaulted ceiling is really difficult.  Even though we wouldn't DIY this one, that would make it really pricey.  It's just not the right solution for us for this room.

[mrsukyankee]

I'd probably go with the fan and then a bunch of floor and table lamps, because I tend to like that better (light where I want it and at the brightness that I want at that moment).

[Susie]

I finally made a decision on this, and ordered the new fan last weekend.  I went with this one:



It is 58".  For scale, the white one that is there, is about 48".  I was torn between this one, and one that is 62" and 5 blades.  I still don't know if I made the right call, but preferred the look of the 3 blade.

This is our first winter in the house, and it became clear pretty quickly that having a fan really helps distribute the heat from the fireplace.  Still TBD on what we'll do for additional lighting.