Very few of us can stomach the cost of changing the way we heat our homes. But fear not, there are some clever tricks to hide ugly radiators! The vast majority of houses in the UK have central heating systems using radiators to heat our homes. We’ve got so used to seeing radiators in every room, that we’ve learned to block them out – a bit like annoying banner ads! In an ideal world, we’d all live in homes with discreet under-floor heating or eco-friendly subterranean temperature-control systems. But the reality is that most of us just need to make do with what we have. So here are some things you can do to hide your ugly radiators:
1. Pick radiators which reflect your interior style
If you do have the budget, changing your radiators to ones that are a bit more statement-y will turn them into a feature rather than a functional eye-sore. Of course, unless you know what you’re doing you’ll want to hire a pro to install the radiator for you. You can search for quotes in your area via this central heating comparison website. There are so many options available now that you can find radiators which really reflect your personal interior style. The two images below and the featured image are all from The Radiator Company which also has a really handy heat output calculator. This guide ensures you have the right sized radiator for a certain room. And yes… the wall mirror below is in fact, a radiator…
2. Hide ugly radiators with a radiator cover
If replacing radiators isn’t a realistic option for you, you may want to consider covering them up. Radiator covers can come in various sizes and styles and can also double-up as a handy shelf! Affordable radiator covers are generally white-coated MDF but you can get ones which haven’t been coated to allow you to paint them any colour you want. I bought a radiator cover from Argos 6 years ago and it’s still going strong! You can spot it in this (very old) blog post. Another benefit of radiator covers is that they offer additional protection for little ones.
There are also some designer radiator cover options available too. I love this adjustable Art Deco style one from MY Furniture. At £249.99 it wouldn’t set you back too much either!
Of course if you don’t want to spend any money and love the rustic look, a pallet always comes in handy. Stain it, bleach it, paint it or even wallpaper the pallet to get the finished look you’re after.
3. Paint your radiators
An even more affordable option is to just paint your radiators to match your walls – or another contrasting colour. Eggshell is my preffered paint type for radiators and gives a really fab finish. You can also use gloss or satin, but I prefer the more subtle matt finish of eggshell.
Babouche radiator from Farrow & Ball
Photo by Ed Reeve for Brian O Tuama Architects
Brassica radiator from Farrow & Ball
4. Create a radiator seating area
A radiator under a window could be turned into a cosy (and bum-warming) nook. Of course, your radiator would need to be fairly low to achieve suitable seating height. Bay windows scream out for this type of seating area and as long as there’s adequate ventilation for heat to escape, it won’t affect the warmth of your home. The only other thing to be aware of is if you want a seating area in a child’s room. You’ll need to make sure your window is secure so that they can’t lean out.
Photo by Hitt Oak Ltd
5. Hide your radiator with a table or sideboard
Hide an ugly radiator with a table or sideboard to effectively disguise it. Painting the sideboard the same colour as the walls is a great way to blend it in and camouflage it. I love this stylish breakfast table over this kitchen radiator too – keeping your toes toasty as you sip a coffee!
One thing to consider with placing a console table over your radiator, is that they often have a horizontal bar across the bottom to keep it rigid. You just need to make sure that the bar is across the bottom so it doesn’t get in the way of the radiator.
6. Use a magnetic radiator wrap to hide ugly radiator
I was introduced to Radwraps several years ago and they’re a fantastic way to hide an ugly radiator. They’re a great solution for rented homes as Radwraps are easily removable and leave no marks. You can choose from a range of existing designs or get a colour/wallpaper match to blend the radiator into the wall. Magnetic radiator covers are also a great way to add some temporary wall art in a child’s bedroom.
I hope this post has given you some ideas on how you can hide your ugly radiators! If you’re finding it difficult to find standard radiator covers to fit – I’d recommend heading to Ebay. There are a few businesses on there that make custom-fit radiator covers at good prices.
Natalia xo
I love that mirror cover! Always will work a good color paint!
I a big advocate for painting the radiators the same colour as the wall but I have to say that the yellow radiator above is my favourite. And there is nothing subtle about that!
I can’t believe the mirror radiator! I generally paint the same colour and love the old cast iron style ones too. We have an MDF rad cover and I love that you can set things on it too. Such a great post!
Really great post. I’ve been thinking about radiators a lot lately. Mine are really boring and ugly and I’d love to replace them. I’ve been dreaming of copper radiators, but sadly as this is purely an aesthetic thing (my rads all work fine) I can’t really justify the expense. Maybe I’ll paint them the same colour as the walls for now.
Some really great ideas here for radiators and wish I lived in a period property so I could have a yellow cast iron number like the one above!
I hate radiators, they are hard to shop for from a technical perspective, not easy to change location and most of the time you just have to go with what you have as the designer options can be quite pricey so thanks for all those ideas!
Seriously, it took a bathroom renovation at ours to realise there was SO MUCH on offer when it came to radiators. I love the colour matching that BISQUE do (their rads are big however so painting them is not easy anyway) but agree that a little eggshell paint can take you a long way! I have repeatedly painted radiators at our home to colour match the wall colour and it made a huge difference.