5 clever ways to disguise unattractive radiators in your home

Photo credit: in4mal / Getty

From House Beautiful UK

When it comes to decorating the home, we probably give the colour and style of our radiators very little thought.

But for the design savvy and style conscious among us, there's no denying that more often than not radiators can become obstacles when it comes to the layout of a room and look less attractive, too.

So how do we make radiator styles blend in with our home decor?

Here, Duncan Colman at Heat Traders shares his advice on how to style or disguise heating systems in the home.

1.Pick a radiator to fit your home's style and ethos

'It's important to carry your home's personal style into your heating outlets too,' advises Colman. 'If you have a minimalist and modern look you need to make sure you mirror this with your radiator. I'd recommend using a wall mounted radiator such as the Neva range which are super stylish and also space saving. This style works really well in almost every room of the house and can even fit to your room's colour scheme.'

Photo credit: Heat Traders

2.Camouflage your radiator

If you don't want to spend money on buying a new heating device, then you can easily disguise your existing one with a new cover – and there are a many designs to suit all. 'This can be a more cost-effective way when redecorating any room to hide that unsightly radiator,' explains Colman. 'Not only that, but radiator covers can actually be a stunning feature adding both sophistication and function.'

3. Muti-purpose your radiator

We're used to using furniture for more than just one purpose, and the same can apply to your heating systems. Colman explains: 'Your radiator doesn't just have to be a device that provides heat, but can be multi-purpose such as warming up your towels, acting as a shelf or bench, or even a mirror.' Probably the most popular of them all is towel rail, which are now very practical yet stylish additions to bathrooms.

4.Reskin your existing radiator and make a statement

Whilst covering radiators can block heat, an alternative option could be to reskin what you already have, suggests Colman. 'This can be done by painting your radiator a new colour to either blend in with the walls or alternatively stand out and make a statement. This will also help to disguise the device and give you a much fresher look,' he says.

5. Rearrange your furniture

If all the above options don't really work for you, take a look at the current layout of your room and rearrange some pieces of furniture to detract attention from your radiator. Colman says an 'easy solution' is to reposition your sofa or even an armchair – try this at an angle so not to block the heat from circulating around the room.

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