How do I Choose the Best Tuscan Ceiling Fan?

Choosing the perfect Tuscan ceiling fan for a room can complete its look. The ceiling fan's design is the most important quality from a decorating standpoint, but other factors should also be considered before making a final selection. These factors include the location of the room, the size of the room, and the convenience features you want in the fan.

The Tuscan style is based heavily on natural items. Materials such as stone, wood, and wrought iron are commonly used. Muted earth-tone colors are also prominent in Tuscan decorating. A Tuscan ceiling fan should never have polished brass or bright silver hardware, including fan blade accents. Light kits, which may be sold with the fan or separately, typically have matte frosted glass or glass tinted in champagne or tea colors.

The location of the room in which a Tuscan ceiling fan will be installed is also important. Indoor rooms can use any ceiling fan. Outdoor areas that are covered but have open sides, such as screened porches, need a damp-rated ceiling fan. This type of fan is designed to withstand indirect exposure to the elements, particularly high humidity that may warp the blades. Outdoor or wet-rated ceiling fans must be used for any location that will be exposed to direct rain or snow.

Tuscan ceiling fan sizes range from 24 inches (60.96 cm) to 60 inches (152.4 cm). The size refers to the widest diameter of the fan from blade tip to blade tip. The larger the room, the more motor power the ceiling fan must have to circulate air efficiently. Very large rooms, such as those bigger than 225 square feet (20.90 sq m) are best served by two smaller ceiling fans spaced out instead of one large, centrally-placed fan.

Ceiling height also plays a part in fan selection. Rooms with high ceilings require a downrod for installation. A downrod is a metal tube, available in many lengths, that is installed between the ceiling plate and the fan, lowering the fan to a level at which it most improves room air circulation. Vertical space is at a minimum in rooms with low ceilings, so ceiling fans without a downrod, called flush-mount or hugger fans, are the best choice for those locations.

Convenience features should be the last factor to consider when choosing a Tuscan ceiling fan. Some convenience features, including reversible blades, reversible blade direction, and light kits, come standard on many fans. More expensive ceiling fan models may include hand-held or wall-mounted remote controls and even wireless speakers compatible with a number of audio sources such as MP3 players and televisions.