11 Fresh DIY Ceiling Fan Ideas to Transform Your Home’s Biggest (Functional) Eyesore
It’s no secret that stylish lighting and modern ceiling fans can be expensive. Unfortunately, this usually means you’re stuck with things like “boob” lights and those ugly ceiling fans from the ’90s. The solution? A DIY ceiling fan. This removes the need to spend money on a fancy new version and gives you a chance to spice up your space with your own creativity.
While you may have only considered DIYing things like bed headboards, fun little rugs, or adorable hanging planters, fans are another home item that can easily be customized for a low cost and with no professional skills needed. To help you get started, here are 10 ideas to rebrand your fan from things as easy as replacing the light fixture to painting your own blades.
1. Give it an industrialist vibe.
To take a ceiling fan from boring to trendy in minutes (and way on budget, too!) try this clever hack by @headley_homestead. They’ve added a wire-frame shade to their ceiling fan to give it an industrial look.
2. Rethink a lamp shade.
Another of our favorite DIY ceiling fan upgrades is to use a regular, cylindrical lampshade like the one shown here by @the_traditional_eclectic. She’s chosen a white shade with gold accents as an upgrade for her daughter’s basic ceiling fan.
3. Give it a burst of color.
There’s nothing washi tape can’t beautify, fans included. To really jazz up those boring rotating blades, a bit of tape and paint can be your best assets. This also allows you to dream up any combination of colors and designs.
4. Swap out the blades.
The classic rectangular oblong fan blades aren’t your only options when it comes to ceiling fans. You can easily swap out the blades for something more chic, like these retro-inspired wooden ones in this Austin cottage home.
5. Make your ceiling fan an accent piece.
If you’ve got a running theme or palette in your room, use your fan as another way to accentuate it. Painting a ceiling fan is a great way to add a little more color to your space in an unexpected way. Like what the residents of this Massachusetts home have done.
6. Switch up the light shades.
The ceiling fan in this Los Angeles home is a great example of how you can make a basic fan look more unique by going all out with the light shades. Those basic conical-shaped glass shades can be replaced with unique lanterns and lights.
7. Match the blades to your style.
Your style can most definitely be reflected in your fan choice, especially with a little DIY magic. Changing out the blades to match your style is so easy to do and this Los Angeles home shows how a boho style can translate all the way up to your ceiling.
8. Use spray paint to luxe it up.
You’d be surprised by how much spray paint can elevate the look of a fan. A plain metal fan can instantly look more contemporary with a couple of coats of spray paint with a rubbed oil bronze finish.
9. Stain the wood or add faux paneling.
Adhesive stickers with a wood texture or print can be a great solution to boring plastic blades. But if the blades on your fan are already made of wood, or a wood-like material, something as simple as staining them can make all the difference. This is especially helpful for matching other wood finishes that are already present in your room, just like in this chic bedroom in California.
10. Add your own light fixture.
DIY doesn’t mean you have to take a full week to do a fancy project. The fan in this Kansas City home was made up of a light fixture from Amazon and a fan from Lowe’s. Sometimes it’s just a matter of mixing and matching to your liking.
11. Distress wood.
While you can purchase a fan like the one in this Texas home, distressing wood yourself saves money and is quick and easy to do. Simply taking sandpaper and roughing up the edges can take a basic fan and give it a vintage feel for practically free.