In my living room with a vaulted ceiling, the heat in the winter rises right up to the ceiling and then into the upstairs area. The ceiling fan, on reverse, really helps to bring the warm air back down. I would want to keep it for that reason. If I don't have it on and I go up the stairs, I can just feel the warm air sitting up there when I reach the top step.

Will you be renting?

No we are not planning to rent our home.

If you don't like air moving, then I'd take them down. Will you replace with lights or cover the wires?

I would leave them up for a year. If you go there in each season, not just summer, and haven't turned any on (even in reverse for warm air) by this time next year, then by all means take them down. You will have to either patch the holes and repaint the ceilings, put caps on them, or install ceiling lights.

Joanie, that would be a great idea except I would have to replace the fans that are there now. They are not my taste at all! In fact, one of the other reasons I want to get rid of them is that I have yet to find any ceiling fans I find attractive!

Caroline, we live in south central Texas and it gets pretty hot here. However we do not have one ceiling fan in our new home that we built. I do not miss them and never liked them before. Instead I have lovely and unique light fixtures which I love!

Thanks Aktillery9! We are in a much more northern climate in NJ. And while it does get hot and humid, it's never unbearable.

Brushworks, yes. We built our primary home 17 years ago and I can honestly say the screens are unnecessary. I don't think I have ever opened the windows except when I had to let smoke out or something. I am the type of person who could even live without air conditioning, I am always cold.

There is no reason to leave them as is--for a year. This is a new experience for you, you never know.

I have taken them out where I found them unsightly; conversely have put them in where they were necessary for comfort. Never saw one I liked until a friend showed me the Minka fans in her home. We put this one in our TV room, whisper quiet and on low just stirs the air gently; people compliment on it all the time.

Starnold, that is a very nice looking fan!

I've been seriously considering one of these Minka fans for my bedroom. In the meantime, I put lamp shade over it, like this.

I'd keep them for awhile. You may discover the reason the previous owners were using them. I use mine in the summer to help circulate the AC upstairs. Then you can either replace them with something you like or get rid of them altogether.

I really dislike ceiling fans, not only because of their looks but the air moving around doesn't feel good to me. We had several here in our one story ranch house and my husband took them all out. We do use a standing fan in the TV room when it gets really hot in the summer. That doesn't bother me so much, but for some reason air constantly circulating above me does. It's one of those things that people who like fans and think they're great just don't understand, but for some people it's a very real issue. We have very low humidity in so. CA so that may be another factor.

I'm not a fan lover either. I always think of them gathering dust when not in use. If you dont think you will need them, then I would be tempted to remove them.

I understand not liking the look or feel, some people don't like the feeling of the fan blowing. Take them down.

I dislike the look also, however saying that I couldn't live without the ones in the bedrooms. If you don't like them remove and replace with lighting.

I would like to be cold all the time...you can always put more clothes on but you're limited by how much clothing you can take OFF <lol> Ceiling fans are a big necessity here (NE Texas). I have fans that blend in with the ceiling and fans that are part of the decor of that room. I'm opposite. Unless it's the dead of winter, I feel the need to have circulating air all the time. And I could never not open my windows (when it's cool enough of course). Love airing out the house and filling it with crisp fresh air :) I can't imagine NEVER opening a window and airing out my home.

Since you don't like the style of the fans that are currently there, take them down and if you find later that you've changed your mind, buy new ones :)

Nosoccer.....how did you attach the lampshade?

Thanks all! You gave me some things to think about.

My home is aired out with either heating or air conditioning which is always on. I know I sound strange (although nice to hear there are others like me) but I am always cold! I am never hot even in the middle of summer. In fact I usually carry a sweater or wrap with me even in the summer in case I feel cold. What can I say, I am a small person (runner) and never feel warm enough.

I like our ceiling fans for air movement and to reduce AC usage, but if those weren't positives for me I wouldn't see the need to keep ceiling fans I wouldn't use. A pretty light fixture is definitely more attractive!

Maybe keep one in a guest room if you have that extra space. DH and DD really enjoy sleeping with a ceiling fan on in the bedroom.

Definitely need them here in coastal FL! Not only do they make it more comfortable, but they really help w/ heating & cooling bills.

There are very detailed instructions here.

Just make sure that you get a lamp shade that has a spider top (not sure if that's the right term) with the appropriate divisions. So if your lamp has three lights, use one with three sections, if it has 4, use one with 4 sections.

Looks like this from the bottom

for one light

Haven't tried this, but it should work.

Thanks Nosoccermom.......sorry for the hijack!

Definitely need them here in southern Louisiana with our extremely high humidity. Even with a/c I have to have moving air to sleep at night.

I'm not crazy about overhead light fixtures, so would never consider that as a fan replacement.

No idea how old you are, but you might feel differently about the fans when menopause hits. ;)

I have them in every room in the house and in the living room there's 2. In my office sunroom area, very long big room there are 3, two in the office and one in the sun room. I can't live without them. Having lived for so many years in South Louisiana and in the Houston area it's a must for us. I have 3 fans blowing on me at night all year. I am more often hot than cold especially after menopause! Even my new RV has a ceiling fan!

I personally love my ceiling fans but if you don't than take them down except for the ones in the guest bedrooms. Your guests might like a fan at night.

Wow, I hate stale air and prefer it moving though not blowing on me directly. A slow moving ceiling fan doesn't feel like a breeze, it just helps keep the air from collecting at the ceiling. High ceilings really need some air circulation. But your preference for never ever opening windows makes me feel like suffocating, I much prefer fresh air unless it's very hot or cold outside. It's definitely not healthy t keep a home closed up - indoor air quality becomes very poor.

Living in east Texas, MONTHS (like all of May-Sept and some of April and Oct) go by that we can't open windows because it's too hot and humid. We have central AC (and heat) but it doesn't freshen a house like throwing open the windows and letting in fresh air. Loooove the smell of fresh crisp air. We were gone all day today. Quite warm here for Feb but not warm enough for the AC. The house was a little stuffy when we arrive home after 6pm. Opened some N and E windows and in no time it was fresh as a daisy in here :) Running the AC doesn't do that. It's better than no air circulating but it's not the same.

I love that idea to add a shade to a ceiling fan. I have been wanting to update the light fixtures in my home and got stuck with the ceiling fans. They match the current lights, but I can CHANGE that and add some bling.

I've done this to all my fans, constantly changing the shades :)

The best change was adding a shade with a gold lining inside. It makes the room so much more bright and literally glowing.

Other options.

IKEA hacks