DIY Ceiling Fan Upgrade

While my master bedroom makeover is in the works, I’ve had several requests for a tutorial on how I switched up my builder boring ceiling fan from this…

…to this…

I got hooked on this chandelier a few weeks ago after Young House Love featured it in one of their mood boards.

It was the perfect solution to dressing up my bedroom ceiling fan!  The description said it did not include a light source but I was sure I could fenagle a way to attach it to my existing ceiling fan and still use the lights from the fan as a light source.  Therefore, I did not purchase a corresponding wire and light kit with the chandy.  Just the chandy.  Once the chandelier arrived, I simply removed the globe light from our fan.  Sorry, I don’t have any pics of this step {Handy Hubby was at work and not able to capture me in action} but all it involved was unscrewing the finial from the bottom of the globe and removing a few teeny screws.  I left the light source attached to the fan.

I was a little concerned about the fan being able to handle the weight of the chandy but once I removed the globe light I was happy to discover the chandy actually felt lighter in my hand than the globe light.  So, no problemo there!

Now for the fun part.  Where I stand with my hands on my hips and stare at the naked fan light for about 10 minutes trying to figure out what to do next.  {Really, I had no plan but I was sure I could concoct something.}  Suddenly, it hit me.  ZIP TIES.  I ran out to the garage and grabbed a few small zip ties from Handy Hubby’s stash.  I brought ‘em upstairs and was excited to find that they fit around the existing metal piece that had previously held the globe light in place.  I removed the light bulbs from the fan and held the chandy up.  The center metal ring of the chandelier slipped perfectly up and over the cord string that adjusts the brightness of lighting.  To secure the capiz chandelier in place, I just used 2 zip ties on opposite sides of the fan and looped them each around the metal fan connector & the chandelier’s metal ring frame.  Once the chandelier was installed, I realized the original 60W bulbs weren’t going to fit anymore.  No worries.  I brought out two 40W candlebra bulbs from storage and they fit just right!  Given, they do not put off as much light as the 60W bulbs but I prefer the dim ambience they provide in a bedroom setting.

So, are you confused?  Too many words to compute?  Maybe some pictures will help.

{You can’t see the light bulbs from the ground.}

The candlebra-sized bulb fits perfectly above the circular metal framework of the chandelier.

Looking up from below…

The pull chain is still accessible…

So, that’s how I ‘made it work’ in the words of Tim Gunn…for less than $100.  The chandelier could be easily removed if we ever move and want to take it with us which means renters could benefit from this upgrade as well…it’s not permanent.  Some of you have asked about the capiz shells clinking when the fan is on.  The chandelier does not make noise but we don’t turn our fan on anything higher than the MEDIUM setting because our ceiling fan has always been off balance {even after several attempts to balance it ourselves}.  I’m not sayin’ this is how you should hang a fixture from your fan but it worked for me with great results.  Please check with a licensed electrician if you have any questions or problems beyond aesthetics with your ceiling fixtures!

Tagged as: Bedroom, ceiling fan, chandelier, cheap, DIY, easy, fan, light, light fixture, master bedroom, update, World Market, Young House Love, zip ties