If there’s one thing that bugs me in rented homes, it tends to be that ugly radiators are rife. Your average radiator may well heat your home (which is obviously needed) but it likely won’t enhance it aesthetically, unless you’re blessed with a slicker industrial style of course. I’m guessing that if you’ve found yourself here, you’re not part of the latter club. Fear not renters, you do have options! If asking your landlord to replace your existing styles with a fresher design is simply not an option, here are 6 ways to transform ugly radiators in your home.
1. PAINT YOUR RADIATORS.
A simple lick of paint can make all the difference to your radiators, freshening up a room in the process. I recommend either matching it to the wall colour to blend in with the walls (as Kerry Villers has done below) , or painting it in a contrasting colour to stand out and make a statement.
Remember, you’ll need to use a primer and paint suited to radiators. Look for paint designed for wood or metal such as gloss, satin or eggshell. You should check in with your landlord first and let them know what you’re up to, but as always, a painted radiator can easily be returned to its original colour.
2. BUY A RADIATOR COVER, OR MAKE YOUR OWN!
If painting radiators isn’t a realistic option for you, you may want to consider covering them up instead. Radiator covers come in various sizes and styles and also double-up as an area to style objects.
Affordable radiator covers are generally coated MDF but you can also purchase plain ones that you can paint and customise yourself. If you’re particularly handy, you may even want to try building your own. Hannah of Nap Time Style created this statement number by drilling holes into MDF – simple!
3. USE A MAGNETIC RADIATOR WRAP.
The one issue with radiator covers is that they can block heat from circulating around the room and are therefore not advisable if your house already struggles to heat up. Enter the magnetic radiator wrap as another solution.
Radwraps is a company that allows you to upload your own radiator wrap design to their website or choose from an existing range. They’re completely removable, leave no marks and don’t limit the heat flow.
4. MAKE IT INTO A WORK OF ART.
There’s painting your radiator and then there’s painting your radiator. This creation by Hester’s Handmade Home looks more like a statement mural than something to keep your toes cosy. Think outside the box and try adorning your radiator with abstract shapes or a picturesque scene for a very different approach.
5. TURN IT INTO A SHELF.
A simple way to distract from a radiator is to turn it into a feature of another kind. Low radiators can be turned into benches or window seats, like this one entrance bench by Malmo and Moss
while taller options can simply be turned into a narrow console. Fellow renter Kelsey Heinrichs placed a shelf bracket above her hallway radiator to create a space for large artwork. Listen, the distraction technique works folks.
6. REARRANGE YOUR FURNITURE.
If all of the above options don’t really work for you, get creative with your furniture layout instead. Take a look at your current setup and rearrange some pieces of furniture to hide or detract attention from your radiator. Position pieces such as an armchair or bar cart at an angle to avoid blocking the heat from circulating around the room, or leave a small gap behind the sofa to obscure it completely. In most cases, tables and desks are the perfect height to block a radiator and will easily conceal the majority of anything unsightly.
What do you reckon? Have you found a solution for how to cover your ugly radiator with our top tips? We hope that your home will be staying both warm and aesthetically pleasing for the foreseeable. Comment below with your rental woes and how you’ve solved your radiator issues.
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