Living Room Makeover: Why We Chose a New Ceiling Fan
A few weeks after pulling out paint cans and rollers for our living room refresh, I went on a serious ceiling fan search. Not the casual glance kind—more like a determined, won’t-stop-until-it-feels-right hunt. Ceiling fans can have a bad reputation, but the one we picked has become the finishing touch that truly brought the room together.
Full disclosure: I splurged on this fan, which is not something I usually do. Between finding an amazing sofa and chairs at IKEA, reusing a rug from our old master bedroom, transforming the room with a few coats of paint, and sourcing inexpensive Craigslist pieces, we were working with half of our original living room furniture budget. That made it easy for Robert to convince me to pick what I really wanted.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the Caneel Bay fan by Casablanca, and once it was installed it felt like a brand-new room. The paint and furniture were obviously important, but that fan—simple, modern, and a little industrial—gave the space a sense of completion. It changed the room’s character without overpowering it.
Ignore the messy mantel cords and a bit of dirty brick for now—we’re working on those details. Even so, the fan elevated the whole room. It’s the kind of subtle statement piece that makes the rest of the decor feel cohesive and intentional.
The rest of the house is still chaotic with boxes, tools, and Rubbermaid bins scattered around, but having one peaceful room to retreat to at the end of the day has been so calming. For a room we started renovating just a month ago, the difference is dramatic.
One happy accident: the fan’s raw wood blades match the frames in our gallery wall perfectly. That kind of unplanned coordination is the best—little details like blade finish and frame tones can make a room feel thoughtfully designed without much extra effort.
We’ve also nearly finished the breakfast nook, which you can see peeking out in some of the photos. I’ll share full details on that area soon, but it feels great to have multiple corners of the main floor coming together in both style and function.
Paint, Furniture, and Finishing Touches
We kept the palette light and classic so the fan and furnishings would stand out. The choices we made so far focus on comfort, affordability, and a modern farmhouse look—simple, layered, and practical. The new fan ties the room together visually and adds improved airflow, making the space more comfortable year-round.
Sources and Items in This Space
Here are the main products and finishes we used:
- Wall color: Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
- Trim and ceiling color: Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Door color: Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron
- Sofa: IKEA Farlov
- Chairs: IKEA Stocksund
- Wagon bench: Craigslist find for $35
- Gallery wall frames: Michael’s (found with a coupon)
- Rug: Purchased from RugsUSA (pricing varies)
- Ceiling fan: Casablanca Caneel Bay in Aged Steel
- Lamp: Kirkland’s
- Blue print pillows: World Market
- Cream quilted and medallion pillows: Target
- Banana leaf tray: Hobby Lobby
- Cedar topiaries: IKEA (discontinued; similar versions are available elsewhere)
Remaining To-Dos
We still have a short punch list before we’ll call this room completely finished:
- Hide TV cords with cord covers
- Build a window seat bench to house the cable box
- Decide whether to hang curtains
- Treat the brick fireplace with a lime wash or German smear
For now, we’re pausing big changes in this space until more rooms are painted and furniture is in place. When friends visit, they should be prepared to lend a hand—there are still unpacked boxes everywhere. But having this refreshed, livable room already makes the effort totally worth it.
