Ceiling Fans Vs. Table Fans

Many designers say ceiling fans are a huge design no-no in interior design.  But I don’t agree.  While I tend to lean towards a chandelier over a ceiling fan more often than not, I do see the functionality of a ceiling fan as absolutely essential in some spaces.  While in years past ceiling fans have not always been visually attractive, nowadays there are many manufacturers doing a great job of marrying form with function so you don’t have to sacrifice on style.

Ceiling Fans Can Be Stylish & Functional 

Regardless of a room’s style, an all black fan can look classic and timeless.  In my opinion, the simpler the style the better in a large space.  I love the all black Haiku we installed in our living room last year.

An all black fan works really well in spaces that have other black elements, and in going with black you don’t have to worry about competing metal profiles.

HGTV Fixer Upper Ceiling Fan

(Fixer Upper via HGTV)

 Rejuvenation

(Rejuvenation)

As opposed to black, an all white fan on a white ceiling takes a backseat to the overall design of the space as it just sort of disappears.  This is a great option for low ceilings where you want the function of a ceiling fan, but you don’t want the fan to take up any visual space.

All White Ceiling Fan

(Home Bunch)

Emily Henderson - white ceiling fan

(Emily Henderson)

While all-black or all-white ceiling fans are my personal go-tos most of the time, I think this collection I rounded up below showcases just how stylish ceiling fans have become.

ceiling fan favorites

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

I really love 2, and it also comes in this super cute mint color!

ceiling fan

Table Fans – Best of Both Worlds?

If you’re still not convinced that a ceiling fan can be stylish enough or if you just absolutely have to have a chandelier or pendant instead, a table fan could be just the thing.  I use table fans a lot in bedrooms where I don’t want a ceiling fan but do want to be able to circulate air.  The beauty of a table fan is that you can store it away in the winter months when you may not need/ want to use it.  And you can take it with you when/if you move.

Table fans can be really stylish as well.  I opted for a table fan in lieu of a ceiling fan in our guest bedroom as I wanted more of a statement piece overhead and fell in love with this globe pendant.

guest bedroom

The table fan not only looks great in the space, but it is also very effective.  Vornado fans are awesome, and I really dig their retro style.

Table fans are sometimes frowned upon by designers as well, but I think this collection proves that they can be a stylish, yet functional accessory in any space.

table fan favorites

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

I especially love this red one!

Red Table Fan

What Say You?

So what do you think?  Do you think ceiling fans should be considered a design no-no?  Are you team ceiling fan or team table fan?  Or do you see a time and place for both?

 

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  • Personally, I don’t care what a “designer” thinks. Our home has to function well for us. That’s the bottom line. We live in the south and we have always had ceiling fans. I love going to sleep under a ceiling fan! Honestly, if we are somewhere overnight without one, I miss it. I do think you can find pretty, stylish ceiling fans. We have them in our master, our great room and our sunroom, although the only one that really gets use is the bedroom fan. They are also great though if you need to air out the house – I can open up the windows/doors and turn the fans on to circulate fresh air. As for table fans – no, not for us. I like the moving/circulating air coming from above. Those are some nice fans you’ve shown. I have one that I need to replace, so will check those out!

  • Living in the desert a ceiling fan in every room is a must to keep the air flowing. Even with Ac, the air need to be moving around. I think we have a place for both, ceiling and table.

  • i’d have both if i could! i live in NoVA, and it’s not even noon and it’s already 90 degrees.

  • We’d have to run the AC more without ceiling fans in the bedrooms, so we have them in all the bedrooms and the family room. I do think the fans w/o lights are more stylish, but sometimes having an overhead light is nice even if you don’t use it daily!

  • I like the ones without lights better too but in rooms without can lighting it can be tough not to have an overhead light.

  • I’m weird in that I absolutely can’t sleep with a fan on, but I do love a fan in a great room. The Haiku in our living room is amazing! It’s a smart fan that comes on automatically when the room hits a certain temperature. It keeps the whole house cool!

  • I don’t really feel like it’s an option to not have one here in texas, especially for sleeping! I can understand why people prefer the look of a chandelier, but we have to be comfortable in our home.

  • Ceiling fans are a necessity in Oklahoma. We have them in all three bedrooms, but the kids can’t use theirs because of the bunk beds. We also have one in the living room and one in the “formal dining room” which is our computer room. I also use a big floor fan in my bedroom. For noise year-round, but for added cooling in summer.

  • I agree. I’m all for form and having a home that looks nice, but you have to be comfortable in your space too! Thankfully ceiling fans have come a long way in the design department. There are so many good looking ones available at lots of different price points.

  • Oh yes, the noise of a fan is great to fall asleep to. I don’t like air blowing on me but I do love the sound of a fan. That’s why I do table fans in most bedrooms.

  • I don’t mind how ceiling fans look in a room. I just think that they don’t function as well as people think they do. The hot air rises to the ceiling and ceiling fans blow the hot air back down into the room. Fans on the floor work much better at cooling a room as they circulate the cooler air that sinks to the floor.

  • In a master bedroom I gotta go with a chandy for the ceiling. But if I had a really high ceiling and if the fan would blend in with the ceiling rather than contrast, I’d reconsider. Ok, I guess it depends on the room overall because I do like the examples you have here that completely defy my “rules.”

    We have an interior designer and my hubby and I shopped for a ceiling fan for our kitchen before consulting with our designer. We thought he’d want us to get something really ornate, so that’s what we were looking at but then he took us by surprise when he told us to just get an all white ceiling fan (duh!). It really does disappear into the ceiling, which SHOULD happen since our cherry cabinets steal the show anyway. ??

    We had an antique floor fan when I was younger – it was shaped more or less like a stool – you could actually sit on it, and the vents ran along the side and the fan blades were situated horizontally in the unit. The motor eventually burned out but I LOVED that fan (I forget what they’re called). If I found them again I’d snatch them up. I don’t know why they stopped making that design…it was great for circulating the air without blowing directly on you.

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