Whether you're looking for a screened-in porch, a fancy gazebo or an overhang by your pool, you'll need to check out outdoor ceiling fans. All fans are not created equal. What works for inside will rarely work effectively for outside. A fan that is outside must withstand all weather conditions, be it moisture, dryness, heat or cold. You need a resilient fan.

Every major ceiling fan manufacturer carries a line of outdoor fans. Now, just because the outdoor fans have to have special coatings, don't think you won't have a lot of choices or that the fans will be ugly. There are actually some pretty wild looking outdoor fans out there. You just have to make sure that the fan is UL rated for safety and longevity.

Your outdoor fan should have a sealed and rustproofed motor and hardware. Most outdoor blades will be made of plastic or ABS. When you purchase a fan, you probably won't have to worry about all the technical jargon. It should say on the box whether it's good for outdoor use or not. As with indoor fans, you can choose your favorite style. You might go with modern, traditional, tropical or a host of others.

Fun Outdoor Looks

If you're going for a relaxed, possibly tropical feel to your outdoor area, you might want to consider a fan with leaf-shaped blades. These blades are generally quite large and slightly oval in shape. Some are made out of bamboo or woven wicker. Others are made of wood, but carved to resemble palm fronds or other tropical leaves. You can also get blades made out of colorful sailcloth.