Painting a Ceiling Fan

Modified: Jun 24, 2021 by Gail Wilson
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As most of you know, I’ve been working on my bedroom. It is a very large room, being that it was originally two bedrooms. Because there were two rooms, there were two ceiling fixtures. The ceiling fans have been in there for years!

This is the ceiling fan that is used most for lighting. The closet does not have any light fixtures. With the globe attached there is not much light given off. I removed the globe many years ago, hence that lovely cfl bulb.

This is the ceiling fan on the other side of the room, with the original globe. I know you would all LOVE to get your hands on that puppy! Look at that tassel! The wooden ball operates the fan, and the beautiful tassel operates the light fixture.

I did not want to replace two ceiling fans, due to the cost and the actual installation. I have seen people painting ceiling fans all over blogland. Some people even left them installed. I opted for taking mine apart before painting.

One can’t have black screws on a white fan now can one?

Perhaps not the best way to spray paint the machine screws, but hey, it worked for me.

I turned the ceiling fan blades/paddles over to their smooth side. I chose to paint them all as one part, rather than painting the wooden parts separate from their brackets.

I of course cut off the electricity to the room while I uninstalled the light kit. After taking all the parts down, there was that one part that was not easily removable, but yet needed to be painted white. I used the semi-gloss that I used on the windows to paint that part. I also took advantage of having all the ceiling fan down to paint the ceiling!

close up (note the trim has not been done yet) 🙂

I reinstalled all the pieces. I did not want to use the original globe. duh! I went shopping for a new globe. I was unable to find anything to fit except for a big white ball, which to me resembled a porch light. NO WAY! So then I looked into a new light kit, hmmmm $50.00 each! Not happening!

Oh yeah, I’m needing a new pull chain for the light kit. NOT putting that tassel back up there.

use a lampshade instead of globes on ceiling fans

Meanwhile I start looking all around the house, bringing every lamp shade I have in there to see if it will work. Only one shade would hang correctly. This shade has the little piece that fits directly over the light bulb. It’s not too bad, but I only have one.

I went to Lowes with that shade in tow to buy some shades and new pull chains. I decided to keep the wooden ones and got two oblong looking bulbs for the other chain. (Light kit) I hung them on the clothes line to spray paint them. I had already painted the chains on the wooden ones, so I didn’t want the new golden chains. I wanted them to be white also.

Here are the new chains, and the new lamp shade installed. The shades I got at Lowes had the claw thingy that fits over the bulb, however you can see that the shade is turned the right way, but yet upside down. In other words the claw thing would not grab onto the light bulb. I cut the metal claw thing, but left the four little pieces of metal to help attach the shade to the existing light kit.

See that little piece with all the little holes in it? The little prongs that I left when I cut the claw thing off sort of clip right into those holes.

Here is the before and after! It’s still not the most beautiful ceiling fixture, however I love having ceiling fans. I am pleased with the overall transformation. Well worth the effort.
Check back tomorrow for an update on the bead board/tongue and groove wall.
gail
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ps don’t forget to check out the updating old wood trim post.

and the headboard update here:

and painting knotty pine here:

I appreciate you reading my blog in your reader and/or via email.

You can reach me at gail@MyRepurposedLife.net

Gail Wilson

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Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.

About Gail Wilson

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Clara

October 03, 2014 at 9:28 am

Hi Gail, I love your blogs especially the ceiling fan idea. I have several that need updating but they have three or four lights. I like your lamp shade idea and I think I might try a drum type shade on mine. Thanks for the inspiration.
Clara

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Schmuzie

March 05, 2012 at 7:05 pm

SO glad I found you! I am at my parent's house trying to "update" it. I don't know how much longer they'll be able to live on their own and want to have it ready to sell when the time comes.

They have your fan and two others very similar to it.

Luckily for me, I build and install ceiling fan and lighting displays at Lowe's stores, so the taking it apart and putting it together is no big hooha at all! 🙂

My question is about your prep work. Did you sand/clean before spraying? Did you use a certain type of spray paint, or just plain old spray paint? Same stuff on the metal and the "wood?"

I can't make them white, because the house is spanish-style with LOTS of wood trim.

If I could send or post pics, I'd love to have some brainstorming support, if that's possible?

I hope I'm not a "no-reply comment blogger," because I'm not sure what that is or how not to be one.

Thanks!
Susan

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Rothesay Coupon Mom

January 23, 2012 at 3:37 am

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I have a very similar fan in my kitchen (minus the big globe...I've got 3 small lights coming from it). I've HATED it for the 10 yrs we've lived here, but haven't been able to justify the cost to replace it with all the other things that have had to be updated.

NOW, I can head to the hardward store and get some spraypaint, flip the blades (never thought of that!) and it will be like a brand new fan!! YAY!!

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Happy Birthday!

December 06, 2011 at 8:38 am

I am wondering about the wicker on the original fan. Am I crazy? I can't see the wicker at all. Did you turn them around or something? I love what you did and I have a couple of fans (with wicker!) that I'm going to paint.

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Cindy

August 22, 2010 at 11:25 pm

Love this idea...especially since I have 3 ceiling fans in the house that need some serious attention!

Glad you could Mi4M!

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Happy Nester

August 22, 2010 at 11:15 pm

Looks great. I have a desperate fan that needs a little update. I will have to give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration.
Monica

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Jen T

July 24, 2010 at 3:39 am

That fan looks so cute now. You completely updated it and gave it a Country Living look. Way to go!!

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Sarah @ Thrifty Decor Chick

July 23, 2010 at 5:20 am

Gail, that's awesome!! That shade is such a good idea!

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Pam

July 23, 2010 at 12:33 am

Cool finish on the fan. Very neat.

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Lisa

July 22, 2010 at 7:21 pm

Looks great! Your shade idea is really interesting! I'm planning on doing this with a fan in my guest room so it was nice to see how you did it. Some people leave their fan hanging when they spray, but I can't imagine doing that. Much easier to take it down in my opinion.

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Maggie Mae

July 22, 2010 at 4:47 am

Maybe you can find a new globe at a yard sale or thrift shop. But, hey the lamp shade looks good. 🙂

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Hillbilly Handiworks

July 21, 2010 at 11:24 pm

We live in a rental home. I would love to paint ceiling fans, trim, dark paneling. Oh well. I am thinking about putting fabric all over the paneled wall. LOL husband would flip!!

~your old hillbilly friend, just a new hillbilly name

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Amy

July 21, 2010 at 10:45 pm

Looks good! We've painted all of the ceiling fans in our house as well. I love having the ceiling fans but they aren't the most stylish!

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Makalani Adolpho, PLC

July 21, 2010 at 10:06 pm

I like the way your ceiling fan turned out.

I'm looking for some halloween inspiration. If you have any, stop by at Spooktacular Inspiration Link Party and link it up.

TFS!

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Jeralee

July 21, 2010 at 9:49 pm

Much better! I do like your method of painting the machine screws - it works!

I have a dated ceiling fan in my master as well. We use the fan and the light pretty much every day.

Thanks for the mini tutorial and inspiration. Going to add that to my "to-do" list.

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Punta Gorda Stampers - Trish

July 21, 2010 at 8:02 pm

nice! Never thought to do that. I had a grease fire a couple of years ago that put some strong stains on it. Now I am considering to paint it.

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Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

July 21, 2010 at 4:59 pm

that looks great! i should paint mine. i woul dlove to have a chandelier or something prettier, but alas, we need ceiling fans, too. if only it didn't get so darn hot.

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Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

July 21, 2010 at 4:59 pm

that looks great! i should paint mine. i woul dlove to have a chandelier or something prettier, but alas, we need ceiling fans, too. if only it didn't get so darn hot.

Reply
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

July 21, 2010 at 4:59 pm

that looks great! i should paint mine. i woul dlove to have a chandelier or something prettier, but alas, we need ceiling fans, too. if only it didn't get so darn hot.

Reply
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

July 21, 2010 at 4:59 pm

that looks great! i should paint mine. i woul dlove to have a chandelier or something prettier, but alas, we need ceiling fans, too. if only it didn't get so darn hot.

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Sylvia

July 21, 2010 at 4:09 pm

I love the fan. Very creative. Ceiling fans are a necessary evil in the South.

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Sylvia

July 21, 2010 at 4:08 pm

I love the fan. Very creative. Ceiling fans are a necessary evil in the South.

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Lenore @ Lather. Write. Repeat.

July 21, 2010 at 1:40 pm

Loving the after!!

XO
Lenore

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Diann

July 21, 2010 at 1:12 pm

Wow! you are one busy lady! Wht a great redo! The fans look like totally different fans. Great job!

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jamie

July 21, 2010 at 12:45 pm

it looks sooo great!

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Denise

July 21, 2010 at 12:37 pm

Love the way your ceiling fan turned out great way to deal with the globe problem, are you able to use a cfl blub with the new shade, it looks like you can? If I take the fan down in my living room wanna come and put the second coat on the ceiling? Just kidding, but still need to do that, the first coat got put on 3 years ago that's how much I love painting.

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Granny J

July 21, 2010 at 11:24 am

The ceiling fan looks great. I like the old globe too but not for a fan globe. lol You're putting in so much work on that bedroom. Can't wait to see it when it's all done.

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SewLindaAnn

July 21, 2010 at 11:14 am

You are an amazing woman!! I think I'm going to direct my husband to your blog to see how much you get done!!

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Proper Prim

July 21, 2010 at 9:45 am

Now that was a clever idea... Love the shade opposed to the globe...

I have the fans in a few rooms and I do not like them at all but they are a necessary evil.

Another great job Gail...

Hugs, Deb

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Gail Wilson

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