The mere mention of ceiling fans may conjure up sweltering summer days, but they can be useful at any time of year, in almost any climate.
“Even in wintertime, in a room that has a fire going, a fan on low can keep the heat circulating,” said Michael Cox, the principal of the New York interior design firm Foley & Cox, who has installed them in homes from Canada to the Caribbean. “It keeps the overall temperature of the space a little more regulated.”
Unfortunately, they aren’t always aesthetically appealing — especially in recent years, as the market seems to have been flooded with clunky models.
“I compare fan design to lighting design: There’s generally a lot more bad than good,” Mr. Cox said. “It’s a bit of a needle-in-a-haystack search. But there are certainly a lot of great options out there.”
Choose carefully, he added, and it “becomes a piece of sculpture almost, hanging from the ceiling.”
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Does your fan need a light? If so, look for a design with the light integrated into the fan, rather than tacked onto it, Mr. Cox advised.
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How will you control it? Fans can be controlled by wall switches and pull chains, but “we always prefer a remote that can be tucked into a drawer or a box” when you’re not using it, Mr. Cox said.
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How large should the fan be? “Bigger is better,” he said. “If you’re going to have a fan, it should look strong and functional.”
Cirrus Flush
Fan with remote control and optional light by Ron Rezek for the Modern Fan Company
$436 at Design Within Reach: 800-944-2233 or dwr.com
Haiku
Fan in resin, aluminum or bamboo finish with remote control and optional light
From $688 at Haiku: 855-734-9418 or haikuhome.com
Minka-Aire Wave
ABS plastic fan with remote control
About $240 at Build.com; 800-375-3403 or build.com
Falcon
Steel-and-wood fan with remote control and optional light
From $769 at Rejuvenation: 888-401-1900 or rejuvenation.com
Irene Hugger 3-Blade
Metal-and-wood flush-mount fan with remote and wall controls
From about $572 at YLiving: 800-236-9100 or yliving.com
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