Many people do not think about their radiators until something goes wrong with their central heating system or the radiator itself needs replaced, however despite being such a vital part of a room’s décor all too often they are either hidden away behind covers or simply ignored. It isn’t hard to see why, after all who wants to redecorate an entire room so that everything looks fresh and chic only to have the same white metal eyesore ruin it all. This is why if you are planning on redecorating a room or even planning a whole home project in future, you should seriously consider buying a designer radiator.
Modern designers have been incredibly innovative when it comes to contemporary radiator styles so not only do they complement to a rooms décor but can even serve as ornamental centerpieces on their own. Although whilst it may seem exciting to have crazy designed radiator which will put the Jones’ next door to shame, it’s important not to lose sight of its purpose; keeping the room warm.
When choosing a new radiator you first need to work out how powerful it will need to be to heat the room. To work this out simply calculate the cubic volume of the room, multiply by 50 for living rooms, 40 for bedrooms, 30 for stairs, halls and kitchens, and 90 for bathrooms. This will give you the number of watts your radiator will have to produce, to calculate the number of British Thermal Units simply multiply the number of watts by 3.412. As general rule of thumb the larger the radiator then the greater the heat output, that doesn’t just mean length and breadth but depth as well. If you live in a cold or wet climate then heated towel rails in the bathroom are pretty much a necessity. You can get two different types; one which simply warms and dries your towels and one which acts as radiator to heat the whole room too.
Once you know how powerful a radiator you will need then you can think about what materials and designs you should go for. The UK’s leading supplier of designer radiators – Trade Radiators – gives a comprehensive explanation of the pros and cons of each material.
Steel is typically the most popular and the cheapest option; its malleable quality means that it can be manipulated into almost any shape and style.
Steel Designer Radiator
Cast Iron radiators look fantastic and are ideal for anyone looking to redecorate a room in a more period style. These large two, three or four column radiators generate and incredible amount of heat once they get going and continue to heat the room long after the heating system has been switched off. Original Victorian cast iron radiators are however incredibly rare and so it is likely that you will have to settle for a reproduction.
Cast Iron Radiator
Aluminum radiators are incredibly lightweight and easy to install, they are also very quick to heat up and provide a good level of heat to the room. They may not be as malleable as steel radiators but due to their lightweight they can be styled into flat designer wall plates which look excellent as part of a room’s interior décor.
Aluminum Panel Radiator
Glass radiators have no pipes or wires and are actually electric, this means they can be mounted almost anywhere ad make ideal towel heaters for bathrooms. They are very cheap to run however the costs of the unit can be incredibly expensive. They also come in a number of finishes including mirror so are functional in two ways.
Glass Radiators
Stone radiators are also becoming increasingly popular, with marble in particular being favored for its natural look especially for under floor heating systems. Not only can these radiator be styled as stone wall panels but can also be disguised as stone statues and ornaments and so are perfect for anyone going for a more rustic look in terms of their décor.
Stone Wall Panel Radiator
A designer radiator should help add to the style and décor of your room, with so many to choose from there is no reason why you should have to hide them away.
