Truth: Sherry was surprisingly eager to add two fans to keep our newly opened sunroom cool and create a steady breeze to ward off mosquitoes while we relax. I, on the other hand, was not thrilled about the idea.
We actually have a lot of experience removing fans (see earlier projects), and I’ll admit I’ve always been relieved when they came down. With most of our ceilings around 7.5 to 8 feet and me standing 6 feet tall, ceiling fans often felt like oversized pinwheels hanging a little too low. We kept fans where they were useful—sunrooms, dens, guest rooms—but we weren’t in the habit of increasing the total number of fans in the house.
This time we decided to add a second fan to the sunroom. After ripping out the old ceiling and having new wiring installed, adding two fans made sense: they would cool the space more efficiently and keep mosquitoes away. The newly lofted ceiling gave us confidence the fans wouldn’t feel too low, but I still assumed the installation would be difficult and the results underwhelming.
We searched everywhere—Craigslist, thrift stores, Lowe’s, Home Depot—and settled on a model from Home Depot. Their selection was better overall, and we found a style that would fit the space.
The fans were $119 each, plus a $10 downrod for each since our ceiling is angled. We didn’t pick white fans; with the light ceiling we felt a darker fan would provide pleasing contrast and tie into the dark floors we plan to install. We also made sure the fans were rated for outdoor use and compatible with an angled ceiling.
Though not pictured on the box, we confirmed with a store associate that the fan was compatible with light kits and remote controls in case we want to add them later. For now we plan to add sconces around the room to provide softer, eye-level lighting.
Before starting, we turned the power off at the breaker and the switch, and Sherry double-checked with our live current tester—outdoor wiring can be tricky, and it’s always smart to verify there’s no power.
When it comes to instructions, the manual that came with these fans was excellent. Small touches—like a foldable corner that let you check the ceiling angle and a clear compatibility section—made the whole process feel less intimidating. The manual even separated hardware into labeled bags for each step, which reduced guesswork.
The first step for us was assembling and installing the mounting bracket to the already braced fixture box. The electricians had installed proper bracing during the rewiring, so we only needed to secure the fan to that box. The bracket holds the fan’s weight and makes the rest of the work much easier.
I appreciated the little thumbs-up icon in the manual that confirmed each step was complete—simple but encouraging. The trickiest part I anticipated was attaching the downrod to lower the fan to the right height. We replaced the short rod included with a 12″ downrod (Home Depot’s display helped us choose the correct size for our just-over-9-foot ceiling).
The fan came with plenty of extra wire, so threading it through the longer rod was straightforward. We removed a couple of screws from the supplied rod and reattached them to the new one, then threaded the wires, attached the rod to the fan, and trimmed the excess wire.
Despite my worries about holding a heavy fan up for a long time, the little ball at the top of the downrod slid into the mounting bracket easily, so the bracket held the fan while I connected the wires. The instructions clearly indicated which colors to connect, making wiring quick and painless.
While I secured the canopy, Sherry prepared the five fan blades with rubber washers and screws, then attached each blade to its metal arm. Finally, we installed the base cap where a light kit could be added later, tucking extra wires neatly into that space.
Once the first fan was up, we repeated the process for the second. The first install took a bit longer because we read the instructions carefully and took photos, but together we had both fans installed in about 90 minutes with no missteps and minimal strain.
The surprising part: we love them. I didn’t expect to be so happy about ceiling fans, but they instantly made the room feel more finished and gave the light blue ceiling and white trim some welcome contrast. Picture them paired with the dark slate-like floors we plan to install—exactly the pop the space needed.
It’s one of those satisfying DIY moments that shows how far a room has come—from an unfinished space to something that feels intentional and complete.
We’re glad we chose dark fans—they give the sunny room some balance and visual “pow.” Now if only we’d finished this project a month earlier when we actually needed the cooling; at least it’s something to enjoy next season.
New truth: I’m genuinely excited to have these fans in the sunroom. Secondary truth: the ceiling looks lighter in some photos than it does in real life (see the first image for a truer color), but either way—enjoy the fans.
