The radiator is never the best feature in a room no matter how you look at it and since under-floor heating is not always an option we’re usually stuck with what we have. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Why conform yourself to looking at an ugly radiator when there are plenty of cheap radiator covers ready that can change all that. Not just this, but there’s also always the option of a DIY radiator cover which can actually turn to be a pretty fun and interesting project. If you’re curious, we have some cool ideas that we’d like to share with you today.

Not all radiators look bad but few are actually aesthetically pleasing so a cover is a nice way to change the decor and to do something cool that others can take note of. At the same time, a radiator cover can also be useful. For example, you can use it as a little shelf on which you can keep some decorations, a few potted plants or, if the radiator sits below a window, your cat might enjoy climbing on it every once in a while. The design featured on jakandjil looks really nice. Check out the DIY project to find out more about it.

The radiator cover shouldn’t block the heat, otherwise it does more harm than good. It shouldn’t sit too tight around the radiator either so make sure you leave a bit of space on all sides for good air flow. As for the design, that’s entirely up to you to pick something that suits your needs and your home’s overall decor and style. If you want something simple and modern with a little bit of Scandinavian charm, check out the tutorial on christinasadventures which explains how to build a cover just like the one in this picture.

The cover doesn’t necessarily have to match the radiator’s proportions. In fact, a cool idea can be to make it stretch along the entire wall or at least to be considerably wider than the radiator. This way it will completely disguise the radiator and it will look like a standalone piece with its own separate function. A design that perfectly suits this idea can be found on styleroom.

In many ways a radiator cover is similar to a console table and this is a design that reflects this perfectly. The radiator is still visible so the goal here is not to conceal it but to let you make the most of that little space it occupies by bringing more functionality to the table, quite literally. If you like this design, you can find out more about this radiator cover on daeneryfurniture.

Another cool idea is to build a radiator cover that lets you create a window nook. If you plan on using it as a window seat make sure it’s strong and sturdy. Alternatively you can simply choose to extend the windowsill to go over the radiator, with matching supports attached to the floor. Perhaps you’d like to use this stylish radiator cover from design-milk as a source of inspiration for your project.

Knowing how incredibly versatile wooden pallets are it’s not surprising to see one being converted into a radiator cover. It’s a very simple and cost-effective way of making your radiator more aesthetically-pleasing and more practical at the same time. Of course, this is not a look for everyone or for every type of room. Check out lantliv for more details about this design and about this house in general.

Putting a cover over a radiator can be a decision based primarily on adding more functionality to a space and taking full advantage of a small area by using the cover as an extra shelf, console table or storage surface. The fact that it will also make the radiator look nicer is a nice plus. Find more smart design solutions for small spaces on apartmenttherapy.

Building a radiator cover can be a very cheap and simple project, especially if you can use leftover materials from previous projects. Check out for example this radiator cover featured on instructables which was made using reclaimed fireplace wood, timber cladding and off cuts. You could definitely make adjustments to this project and use different materials, based on what’s available to you.

If your primary goal is not to hide the radiator but to put it to good use there’s no point in concealing it completely. You can just add a shelf above the radiator, as shown in this instructables project. This is an approach which could work for spaces like the entryway, the mudroom or a hallway. If you plan on building something similar, look for ways to customize the shelf cover so it best suits your radiator, storage needs and design preferences.

In this case the radiator itself looks a lot like a bench so adding a wooden top was a rather natural thing to do. The positioning of the radiator right in front of the window actually works out great here. Instead of being in the way, the radiator actually looks like it belongs there now. Check out the details of this project on averageinspired.