There are two two other very common phrases that are used to describe low profile ceiling fans and those terms are “flush mount” and hugger fans. All basically describe the same style of fan and that's a unit that's mounted directly to the ceiling with no down rod.
A Few Important Things to Keep in Mind
There are a few important things to keep in mind though when considering this type of fan. For instance while a fan of this type is touted as the perfect solution to a low ceiling problem, it does come with a catch.
How Low is Your Low Profile Ceiling Fan?
That is that not all fans are as low profile. Some are shorter or taller than others and in a a limited ceiling situation this is something that you may like to pay attention to. Remember that when you're that tight for ceiling space a few inches can really count.
Do the Math
You see, while so much promotional material will have you believing that all is just fine in a room with 8 foot ceilings and a flush mount fan, the facts just don't support the case. This particularly holds true in bedrooms where people will be raising their arms while changing clothing.
That's Definitely No Fun
If you've never accidentally stuck your hand in the blades of a moving ceiling fan, let me tell you that it's no fun. While the damage is always quite light if at all, the sensation is that of having your fingers chopped off. Quite startling!
Low Profile Doesn't Mean Short Blade Span
Another thing that you may want to consider is the blade span. You see many people and you may be one of them, seem to think for some reason that low profile also means short blade span. The fact is that several leading fan makers have low profile fans that have up to 52 inch spans.