Antrader Ceiling Medallion,Wood Ceiling Cover Home Lighting Ceiling Medallions Ring Ceiling Fan Medallion for Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans,3.1" ID x 9.4" OD

Why I picked up this medallion

I bought this wooden medallion to solve a familiar problem: a ragged drywall cut around a ceiling fan canopy that no amount of caulk could make look intentional. I wanted something decorative but not plastic, lightweight enough to adhere directly to the ceiling, and easy to finish to match trim. This medallion’s 9.4-inch outer diameter and carved surface seemed like the right balance—large enough to cover the mess, small enough to stay proportional in a standard bedroom.

After using it in two spots—a bedroom ceiling fan and a small flush-mount light in a hallway—and later experimenting with it as a backplate for a smart thermostat, I have a good sense of where this piece shines and where it needs a little coaxing.

Build and design

The medallion is real wood, not foam or polyurethane. It’s lightweight and thin, which makes installation easier but also demands careful handling. The carved pattern is consistent and clean enough that it reads well once painted or stained. Up close, the machining is evident (as you’d expect at this price), but edges aren’t fuzzy and the piece needs only a quick sand with 220-grit to be finish-ready.

In its natural state, the wood takes stain evenly with a pre-stain conditioner and accepts primer and paint without drama. I tried both routes: stain for a warm contrast in the hallway and paint to blend with a white ceiling in the bedroom. The grain shows through stain pleasantly; paint hides the grain and highlights the pattern.

At 9.4 inches outer diameter, it’s a modest medallion—good for standard rooms and fixtures. If you have a large, visually heavy fan or a grand chandelier, it can look undersized. The inner opening is 3.1 inches, and that dimension matters for installation.

Fit and installation

The inner diameter is small compared with the outer diameter of many fixture canopies, which are often 5–6 inches. That’s not a problem by itself—the canopy covers the center opening—but it does affect the mechanics of how the medallion sits against the ceiling.

Here’s what worked for me:

• Remove the fixture completely. This medallion is not split, so you can’t wrap it around an existing stem. Plan on taking the canopy and mounting hardware off the box.
• Dry fit against the box and mounting strap. On my fan box, the mounting strap screw heads protruded just enough to keep the medallion from lying perfectly flat. I used a Forstner bit to create two shallow recesses on the back side, right where the strap screws touched the wood. A minute of careful drilling made the piece sit flush.
• Mount the medallion first. I used a ring of construction adhesive (Power Grab or similar) and two tiny 18-gauge finish nails sunk into the ceiling joist area to hold it while the adhesive cured. Pre-drill for any nails or screws—this wood can split if you force fasteners near the edge.
• Reinstall the fixture, letting the canopy overlap the center opening and clamp everything cleanly to the ceiling.

If you’re planning to enlarge the center opening, the wood is soft enough to cut cleanly with a hole saw from the back side. I did this for the thermostat application, opening the hole to clear the mounting plate and using a Forstner bit to pocket the plate’s screw heads so the back sat flush to the wall.

A note on code and safety: the medallion is purely decorative. It should not support a light or fan. Use a fan-rated electrical box for fans, and ensure the canopy and electrical connections are made properly within the box. Don’t rely on adhesive alone to hold heavy trim overhead if you can add a couple of discreet brads or screws.

Finishing and appearance

Because it’s real wood, finishing is flexible:

• For paint: a quick sand, a stain-blocking primer, and two coats of ceiling paint gave me a uniform finish. I ran a small bead of paintable caulk around the outer edge to hide any slight ceiling irregularities. The carving pops subtly under a satin sheen; flat paint hides detail.
• For stain: I used a conditioner, a light walnut stain, and a clear water-based topcoat. The carved details read nicely in stain, especially in rooms with natural light.

The pattern is traditional without being fussy. In white, it reads like a classic architectural detail; in stain, it nods to vintage millwork. On a modern fixture, I prefer the painted approach to keep it from fighting the fixture’s lines.

Where it works—and where it struggles

This medallion shines in a few specific scenarios:

• Hiding imperfect drywall around a fixture or fan where the canopy alone doesn’t fully cover the hole.
• Adding a subtle layer of detail to otherwise plain ceilings.
• Multipurpose decorative uses as an applique—on a cabinet panel, as a mirror surround accent, or as a tasteful backplate for a thermostat.

The challenges mostly center on its size and thickness:

• The 3.1-inch inner opening can interfere with some mounting hardware unless you recess or enlarge strategically. Plan for a little back-side relief work if your box hardware protrudes.
• The piece is thin and can crack if you overdrive fasteners or handle it roughly. Pre-drill, and support it evenly during installation. If you’re routing or drilling, take shallow passes.
• At 9.4 inches, it’s not a statement medallion. For large, multi-arm fixtures or oversized fans, you may want something larger to balance the proportion.

Durability

Installed on a smooth ceiling with adhesive and small brads, the medallion has stayed flat and tight with no gaps or warping months later. In a hallway, the stained piece looks the same as day one. For bathrooms or kitchens, I’d recommend sealing both faces and the edges well, as wood will respond to humidity changes. For exterior use, I’d only consider protected, covered locations and a marine-grade finish.

Tips for a clean install

• Measure twice: check the canopy diameter and the depth of any mounting hardware that might interfere with the back.
• Finish before installing: it’s much easier to paint or stain on a bench than overhead.
• Use a light bead of adhesive and a couple of discreet fasteners. Wipe squeeze-out immediately.
• If you need to recess screw heads or the mounting strap, mark their location on the medallion back and use a Forstner bit for flat-bottomed pockets.
• Caulk the outer edge after install, then touch up paint for a seamless look.

Who it’s for

• DIYers who want an easy way to dress up a fixture and mask ceiling imperfections without committing to a large, ornate centerpiece.
• Anyone who prefers real wood over foam and wants the flexibility to stain or paint.
• Makers who like repurposing trim as decorative onlays or backplates.

Who should look elsewhere:

• If you need a quick retrofit without removing the fixture, a split medallion will save you time.
• If your mounting hardware or box situation can’t be recessed and requires a bigger center opening, consider a medallion with a 4-inch or larger inner diameter.
• For oversized fixtures, go larger than 9.4 inches to keep the proportions right.

The bottom line

This wooden medallion does exactly what I wanted: it adds a modest, tasteful detail and cleans up the transition between ceiling and fixture, with the bonus of being real wood that finishes beautifully. It asks a bit more of the installer than foam alternatives—namely careful handling and possibly a few minutes of back-side relief work—but the end result is more convincing.

Recommendation: I recommend it for small to medium fixtures and fans where you’re comfortable removing the canopy and doing a light, thoughtful install. It’s a versatile piece that takes paint and stain well, hides common ceiling sins, and can be repurposed creatively elsewhere. If you need a larger inner opening, a split design, or a more substantial diameter for big fixtures, choose a different medallion—but for the use cases above, this one is a smart, attractive solution.