4 min readAs your eyes scan the room, they take in the gorgeous floors, the perfectly selected paint, the inviting sofa you spent hours researching, and the lighting you carefully chose. And in the midst of it all, the bulky, not-so-lovely radiator awkwardly butts in. It’s not like you can just remove it, but you don’t have to let this historic holdover take up so much attention, either. Here, interior designers share their best creative solutions for concealing old radiators.
Design a Radiator Cover
Radiator grills aren’t exactly pretty to look at, but a ventilated radiator cover helps them fade into the background while adding a curated touch. In this dining space, Amy Kartheiser designed a custom brass and marble radiator cover that doubles as a serving surface for entertaining.
“The marble top holds desserts and cocktails, while the brass framing adds warmth that ties into the room's other finishes,” she explains. “Most radiator covers are an afterthought, so designing one with real material quality turns it into a feature rather than something to hide. It also solves a practical need for extra surface space when entertaining.”
Pro Tip: If the radiator must remain functional, make sure to provide adequate clearances at the bottom, top, and rear to maintain proper airflow, advises architect Isamu Kanda of I-Kanda Architects.
Hire a Professional to Paint It
Interior designer Meghan Shadrick says her favorite approach to handling radiators is to paint them, but she strongly advises hiring a professional to do so.
“I find the problem is that people just paint them over and over with wall color changes, and eventually they just look like a peeling mess,” she notes. “My typical strategy is to have a professional recoat them if the house is under construction.”
If the house is being lived in and taking them out isn’t feasible, she recommends stripping the paint, then re-spraying it with a metallic paint that blends with the house palette.
Lynn Berney of LTAInteriors says you can either match the paint color to your walls, or choose a bold hue to make the radiator a focal point. “In the right space, we love embracing it and using color—like bold red, deep green, or another saturated shade—to turn it into an unexpected design moment.”
Conceal It With a Window Seat
Building a custom window seat is an excellent way to enclose, or partially enclose, a radiator. The trick is to maintain air circulation by installing a grille (louvers) across the front or top. Daniel Ian Smith of Village West Design says, “Leave plenty of internal breathing room, and consider either insulating parts of the interior or restricting the radiator’s maximum output.”
Equally important is ensuring service access. Smith says that a creative carpenter can place screws or other fasteners in a convenient spot, or use magnets to attach the metal grille or front cover.
Add a Premade or Vintage Screen
When custom design isn’t in the budget, or you want a quick fix while you wait for another solution, you can purchase a premade radiator grill or screen. Also consider sourcing a vintage piece.
“These can make it feel like an architectural detail that was always meant to be part of the home,” says Kailee Blalock, co-founder of House of Hive Design Co. “This is especially great in an older or more traditional home where you can really play into that sense of history.”
She recommends looking for something that feels appropriate to the architecture of the house. If sourcing an antique or vintage cover proves tricky, there are beautiful reproductions. Blalock says she especially loves a warm, aged brass or a finish that ties into the trim and other details in the room.
Add a Two-Legged Console Table
Consider placing a two-legged console table over a small radiator to reclaim your space and help the room feel more intentionally designed. For the best fit, Shadrick recommends having one fabricated according to the dimensions and your home’s aesthetic. She says, “Not only does it make it more functional, but it also becomes prettier to look at.” Consider adding scalloped details or other design elements for a more custom feel.
Move it Elsewhere (or Remove It Altogether)
Many assume that an old steam or hot water radiator has to stay exactly as is, but it’s often possible to move or rotate the unit. Alternatively, you can swap it out for a thin European model.
“If your home would be warm enough without it, consult a licensed plumber to see if removing a particular unit is feasible,” Smith says. “Just work with an experienced professional, because old valves and pipe threading can be tricky, and a poorly balanced or capped radiator can affect the whole system.”
