Ceiling fans might look mundane, boring and old-fashioned in your deftly designed home but air conditioners and coolers haven'treally been able to replace their utility. The market for ceiling fans is still alive and kicking, especially in a tropical country like India, say designers.
"I personally hate fans. But, ACs consume enormous power. Fans are cheaper and energy efficient," says Ponni Concessao, a Chennai-based interior decorator and architect. Most of us do not use ACs at homes round-the-clock because of power fluctuations and soaring bills.
The organised Indian fan market is worth around Rs 4,000 crore, and about 3 crore fans are added to the market every year. Polar, Orient, Bajaj, Khaitan and Crompton Greaves are some of the major players in this segment. Ceiling fans account for 80 per cent of the fan market. The designer ceiling fans market, though, is at a nascent stage.
"We have a lot of customers who come in specifically asking for decorative ceiling fans with light fittings or four blades, " says Ganapathy Siddiah, proprietor of Bangalore based Homefittings.
Apart from looks, designer fans also come with superior features and efficiency. "The high-end fans rotate at about 300-340 rpm (rotations per minute) whereas normal fans log about 200 rpm only," says Srawan Doshi, a partner of Chennai-based Shanti Agencies. The high-end range also has greater airflow, spreading air throughout the room, he adds. Designer fans start at about Rs 3,000 and can go up to Rs 12,000 or more, depending on the finish and the features.
A normal high-end designer fan would have a bulb attached to the motor. It's purely for the looks – might look gaudy as well – without much functionality.
Havells has introduced its new range of fans for domestic market. It has come out with premium fans in antique finish, fans specially designed for kids, double-colour fans and super speed fans.
"These models have been designed keeping in mind the requirements of modern-day homes. The company has also come out with India's first energy-efficient fan, which consumes only 50W," says a company spokesperson.
Designer fans give you as many varieties as you can imagine. You have several options in colours and finishes and sometimes shape of the motors too. From pull-string on/off switches to remote controls, lighter wings to gold-plated finish, you name it and they have it.
However, designer fans from countries such as Malaysia, China and Singapore are among the best in the world, Concessao asserts. Wood-finish fans are the best if you want to give your rooms a period look.
Wood-finish fans add a colonial feel to your rooms. They might be made of lightwood with elegant looks.