An Inexpensive Way To Upgrade An Outdated Ceiling Fan For A Refreshed Look

For a while in the aughts, ceiling fans were often the first casualties on home improvement reality shows. Down they came because they didn't mesh with the new decor plans, and countless viewers without A/C probably cringed at the thought of losing an economical source of moving air. Yeah, the fans we're stuck with tend to outlast their looks, but that doesn't mean they've got to go. Even if it's far from the best ceiling fan for your space, you can give an upgrade that hardly dents your pocketbook. Contact paper decorating hacks can liven up your space with little mess and low cost. With wood-grain contact paper and a can of spray paint, handy TikToker @houseon610th gave a dated but still-useful ceiling fan a facelift for less than $15.

Even if you can snap up a brand-new one for cheap, making the best out of a functioning yet un-fun-looking existing ceiling fan is a smarter choice, both economically and environmentally. For your own fan upgrade, purchase a can of spray paint and a roll of contact paper in the color and style of your choice. Options for peel-and-stick paper are endless, from a rustic distressed wood grain to a sleek black wood or dark brown walnut wood grain. You'll also need sandpaper, scissors and/or a utility knife, and a smoothing tool. If you don't have a tool specially made for smoothing out wallpaper or contact paper, you can use any plastic object with a thin, straight, and blunt edge. Also, grab a screwdriver that matches the type of screws on the fan to.

To pull off this DIY, start by taking down the fan and removing the blades. If your fan has a lighting element, also remove the globe(s) and bulbs. Clean the metal surfaces of the fan base. Use sandpaper to rough up the areas you'll be painting, and wipe away extra dust. Apply a few coats of spray paint. To ensure the contact paper will stick well to the blades, give them a good wipe down. Apply the contact paper slowly, smoothing away creases and bubbles as you go. Once the paint is dry, reattach the blades and lights and rehang the fan.

If you'd like to give your blades a more unique look, you can avoid contact paper altogether. There are so many creative ways to use decoupage in your home, so why not customize the blades with images of flowers from seed catalogs, with brightly patterned origami paper, or pages from a book that's seen better days. If you're impatient for a new look but still want to save some precious dollars, order a set of cloth "socks" that slip over each blade. You can mimic a wood grain look with a redwood blade cover for about $26 or go for a solid black blade cover for $20. A new color or pattern may take enough attention away from a dated metal base for a quicker fix.