Have you ever considered updating a room with a radiator cover?
I’ve spoken about our ensuite bathroom before and how I was desperate to give it a makeover.
Although it’s a nice sized room — with a lovely, old cast iron, roll-top bath — it was fairly bland; and uninspiring, to say the least.
It certainly wouldn’t be winning any prizes for the most attractive bathroom award, that’s for sure.
The base of the bath looked like it hadn’t been painted for years (and probably hadn’t, to be fair) and the sad old carpet has seen better days too.
As ever, time and money (or lack of it) have got in the way and the bathroom has remained untouched — and pretty low-down on the ‘to-do’ list.
I was in the bath a few weeks ago, thinking how lovely it would be to have a shelf at hand — to have candles and somewhere to put the shampoo — but due to the fact there is a radiator running alongside the bath, it didn’t seem very feasible.
Lying there in the bubbles, mulling over what we could do to improve it, I had a little brain- wave and decided a radiator cover would be the perfect solution!
I looked online for how to make a radiator cover; but as there are plenty of radiator cover kits to buy, this seemed like the easiest/quickest solution.
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Updating a Room with a Radiator Cover
We popped to our local Homebase, where they’ve got a fab selection of stylish radiator covers.
They’re available in all kinds of sizes and styles plus various finishes too, including wooden, pre-painted or unfinished MDF.
We decided on a Richmond radiator cover and bought a couple of tins of eggshell paint too; one for the cover and another to paint the base of the bath.
The cabinet was really simple to put together — no power tools required — it comes in flatpack form and you just need to screw all of the bits together.
Radiator Cover Decorating Ideas
Even in its unfinished state, it made the room look a million times better.
But once the radiator cover had been painted — and the base of the bath also given a fresh coat of paint — it looked like a different room!
The addition of the radiator cabinet has literally transformed the space; no longer old fashioned and sad looking, it’s given it a really smart finish plus we’ve now got a place for candles and other items.
And painting the base of the bath has literally given it a new lease of life.
Funnily enough, I chose a shade called Calamine by Farrow and Ball which is incredibly similar to Pantone’s ‘colour of the year’ for 2016.
These two little changes have made such a difference to the look and feel of the ensuite.
Adding a radiator cabinet is a fairly inexpensive way to really smarten up a room. To be honest, unless it’s a lovely traditional design — or a cutting edge, modern style radiator — they’re not particularly attractive are they?!
By installing cabinets, to cover them up, not only do you streamline your space but you also get a little extra shelving, which is a huge bonus.
I am thrilled with it! I’m thinking of adding some panelling to the wall next.
Watch this space.
There are so many decorative radiator covers available. Whether you’re looking for a more traditional style or modern radiator covers; you’ll be sure to find one to suit your decor.
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
We’re in desperate need to redo our bathroom! Like what you are doing here! It should be a sanctuary :) it looks like it is coming along nicely! Merry Christmas and we’ll speak in the new year xx
I’m so pleased with it :) It still needs new floor and the walls need a coat of paint — I’d love to panel them first too — but we just can’t afford to spend the time or money on it at the mo. The kitchen’s first on the list!! :)
Those little changes have really made the world of difference! It looks so much warmer and more inviting, especially with a beautiful bunch of flowers!
Totally!! It looked so cold before — I’ve always really disliked it but we’ve just not had the money to do anything with it. The radiator cover has totally transformed the room — delighted with it now :)
Only a mini makeover — but long overdue. Amazing what a difference a lick of paint and a radiator cover can make isn’t it? I’d like to redo the whole room — flooring included but the kitchen is first on the list!! The ensuite can wait — this will do for now :)
Do you know I think I need to add radiator covers in our lounge, I hate the way the radiators look. We have lovely vintage radiators in the kitchen so the hall and lounge radiators to me look so dull. I so love the difference yours have made Caro. I think I need to send Chris on a radiator cover mission. When I take photos I am constantly trying to avoid the radiators, this is the perfect solution x
We have them in the sitting room but I’d like them in the dining room as I totally hate the way they look too. Lucky you having gorgeous vintage ones — I’d love those in the whole house!! Radiator covers will have to do though ;)
I love the bath, and the shelf looks great.
Thanks so much Natalie :)
I really love the radiator covers – I have a thing about covers as my mother always made sure hers where beautifully covered as to be honest they are not the most attractive necessity in the home. Makes such an amazing difference to your bathroom and how stunning is the roll top? Love it
Laura x
Aah thanks so much Laura! I agree — they’re pretty unattractive on the whole, aren’t they? The covers are such a good way of giving a room a facelift on the cheap! I love them :) x
Oh how lovely! It looks so lovely Caro, I have always wanted a roll top bath but when we moved to this house there wasn’t the space. Love how your room looks now, good work! xx
Aah thanks pet — it’s definitely getting there! The floor could do with ripping up and replacing but we need to do the kitchen first. Houses are money pits aren’t they?! Especially old ones like this!! xx
What a difference! Love that you can have candles by the bath now – which by the way is stunning! Fab post and great mini-makeover x #HomeEtc
Aah thanks lovely! I’m so pleased with it :) SO happy to have candles by the bath — AND somewhere to put my big glass of wine!! ;)
I love radiator covers! They are a great way of making a room look more finished. We are slowly adding them to every room in our house. I have found spray painting them is a really super quick way to paint them and gives a super smooth, super durable finish! Your bath is gorgeous. I would love one, but don’t think our bathroom is big enough xxx
Ah me too Kerry! I sprayed the one in our snug funnily enough — but the weather has been too wet for spraying outside recently so I painted this bathroom one! Love them — they make SUCH a difference don’t they?
It’s amazing how a few little things can change a room so much! It looks beautiful and I love that you have choosen that pink, it works great.
Thanks lovely :) I’m so pleased with it! I toyed with dark grey for the bath — so pleased I went with the very pale pink in the end :)