We all need central heating, but how you do make it look good in your home? Radiators, boilers and all the pipes can be unsightly in our homes and we want know how to hide the boiler, and how to cover the radiators, so let’s look at our options.
It’s that time of year when we start to turn on the central heating so it’s got me thinking about radiators (of course it did!) and how to make them look more aesthetically pleasing.
Decorating your room and creating an interior haven is one thing, but then we go and stick a lovely white, practical radiator in the middle of it and spoil the look.
It’s hard to know what to do with them for the best, and how to incorporate them into your scheme. So I’ve been doing a little hunting around to find a few different options:
How to Style Up Your Central Heating Radiators
Often this looks good in a more shabby chic, modern country type of style and not always so good for a modern, contemporary decor. But I’ve found a few different choices that could work well in a modern home.
1. Add a Modern Radiator Cover with Gold Accents
The gold trim makes it look more luxurious and would suit a home with metallic accents in its interior design.
I’m a big fan of the idea that the radiator covers all offer storage by way of a shelf for accessories, dishes, books and so on.
Of course, you’ve always got to consider the practical side and decide how much heat is going to be absorbed and lost into the cover.
2. Keep it Simple with a White Radiator Cover
Image: My-Furniture
The curves on this radiator cover would suit any contemporary home, or even an art deco styled space.
The silver accents help add decorative interest, as well as reflect light and tone well with other metallic accents.
3. DIY Your Own Radiator Cover with Fabric
Image: coloursofarley.com
This look isn’t necessarily for everyone, but it’s a great budget tip for hiding radiators.
If you don’t want to invest in a purpose built radiator cover, why not DIY your own fabric radiator cover in a design which complements the rest of your room.
Install a shelf above the radiator and hand the fabric in folds for a flowing appearance – and to allow heat to flow out from the radiator itself.
4. Make a Statement with a Black Radiator Cover
Image: My Furniture
Being bold enough to add a black radiator cover will make a stunning statement in any home and bring you lots of admiring comments from visitors.
It’s a dramatic look, and creates a feature in the room, drawing the eye to the area – so ensure you make the most of it by styling it creatively, adding pieces to the shelf, and art to the wall above.
5. Try a Mirrored Radiator Cover
Image: My-Furniture
A mirrored radiator cover is the ideal way to hide your ugly radiator and create light, interest and a modern twist to the room.
This is a unique radiator cover featuring hand cut, bevelled mirror panels, made of toughened safety glass, with a stainless steel pedestal.
It comes fully assembled and can withstand temperatures of up to 80°Centigrade
It accommodates radiators measuring up to 80cm (from ground level once installed), up to 100 cm in width and 22 cm in depth, (including pipes, valves, thermostats etc). It’s thin enough to conceal your radiator, wide enough to enable effective air/heat circulation.
All you need to do is simply fix to wall with the integral, rear mounted metal strip. Perfect.
6. Use a Console Table as a Radiator Cover
Console Table can be used as a Radiator Cover
What a fantastic idea!
I love how this beautiful, ornate console table can double up as a radiator cover.
Whilst it won’t cover the radiator completely, the decorative design is eye catching enough to draw your attention away from the practical elements of the radiator and keep it firmly fixed on the table itself.
7. Creating a Feature with a Radiator Cover
Simple, sleek and elegant radiator covers are a great option when you want something more traditional for your home.
8. Install a Statement Radiator
Image: Viadurini
Not all radiators are boring.
It’s not always necessary to hide radiators away from the world, sometimes creating a feature from them can be incredibly dramatic.
Think about painting them in different colours, even contrasting colours to the walls, to create an instant feature.
If you don’t want to use a radiator cover to hide your dull radiators, it’s a wise choice to install a decorative, patterned or even wood effect radiator into your room.
There are many choice available, something to suit every taste and design aesthetic, so take your time, do your research and find one you love.
Image: Viadurini
9. Paint your Radiator to Match your Interior
Image: Renaissance at Home
Now I love this very clever interiors trick.
Take a boring white radiator and paint it to match your colour scheme. Here, a Farrow and Ball paint shade has been used in a complementary palette, creating harmony and calm in a bathroom.
One can hardly notice the stylish radiator – and even if you did, it appears effortlessly chic.
11. Install a Modern Electric Heaters
Heating your room and incorporating that device into the room scheme doesn’t have to limit you to radiators of course, you can also go for electric heaters.
Particularly good for creating extra warmth just where you need it; electric heaters for Springtime are a very good choice and they are available in lots of different styles to suit your room.
I love this modern and contemporary electric heater – how cool is this? And who knew such gorgeous styles were available!
12. Create a Practical Area with a Creative Wall Heater
Image: Viadurini
Not all radiators have to be powered by gas. This is a sleek electric radiator in a modern vertical design ideal for a bathroom or living room, made in Italy.
Made from an electric radiant plate, it has a modern and minimal design yet is also practical and elegant with useful integrated shelves. It also comes with a cover so you’d hardly even notice it as a radiator at all!
13. Make Your Radiator a Decorative Feature
Image: The Radiator Company
What a beautiful specimen this gold radiator is.
I love its neat aesthetic, its nod to antique decor and the overall way it helps tie the interior style together in an effortless way.
Adding your stylish radiator in a way that creates an interior accessory to the room is a very clever way to disguise the often dull reputation that radiators have.
14. Add a Radiator Bench
Encona Radiator Bench from The Radiator Company
What a fantastic idea!
Let’s use our radiators in practical ways, but keep them looking good too.
This radiator bench is a brilliant way to do all of that and more. Not only keeping a hallway or entrance hall warm and toasty, you’ve got a useful seat for putting on your shoes.
It’s ideal for families with young children, and would suit a country style, Edwardian or Victorian style home in the UK.
15. Add Bathroom Storage with your Radiator
Image from Vasco
A bathroom radiator such as this one, is installed away from the wall allowing for shelves and hanging space to be installed behind.
The shelves give extra bathroom storage for towels and clothing. Just be mindful of storing any bathroom toiletries here that may get affected by the excess heat.
As you can see it is possible to incorporate your central heating solutions into your decor, just give it a bit of thought and it will look amazing.
Is it safe to cover my radiator?
The short answer is yes. Radiators do not get hot enough to start a fire and as long as you buy or install a well-designed radiator cover that allows the heat to escape into the room, you’ll be fine.
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Jen is an interiors writer and blogger and has an insatiable love of home style and decor
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There is great choice available isn’t there. My husbands sister, did a developments with heated skirting boards, it was a really cool idea!
Author
Ooh that does sound cool! The internet is a great place to source different options isn’t it.
Love the red but not sure about the yellow very vibrant!
Author
It’s very daring isn’t it?!
Love the pink radiator!!
Personally I think, if you can have one, fireplaces are such a wonderful way of heating your home. They give a beautiful warmth and such a homely feeling!
Really great article on central heating. I still have these very boring looking radiators from the 90s, and I’m definitely going to use some of your tips here. The wooden casing is my favorite!
Thats quite a neat idea. Have you looked at some of these electric radiators? I didn’t know you can get some that look like proper fire places!
Makes the home look cozy even though it’s just an electrical and movable machine!
Love the pink radiator