Choosing how to style an interior space is a matter of finding the ways to express one's own personal taste and individuality through the tools interior design offers. Sometimes however, these may involve elements that have nothing to do with either design or décor, but are of clearly defined practical purposes instead. Embracing this 'out-of-the-box' concept in styling, interior design developers have found a smart solution to boost the contemporary look of interior spaces, incorporating modern radiators in the styling layout of the premises.
Photo credit: iStock
Decorative radiators have lately become quite a hit in interior design for being able to add a touch of stylish luxurious look of the room while still keeping its main functional purpose. Responding to the popular demand, modern radiators are nowadays being offered on the market in a variety of designs, colors, and finishes. With that in mind, whether you're looking for a neat, polished towel rail for your bathroom or a heating unit that would make an impressive centerpiece and spruce up the styling of the room, a designer radiator can be the perfect solution.
To make the "switch" from the old boring radiator to a funky heating unit that would become a key feature of the contemporary interior styling while still being able to efficiently heat the room, there a few things to take into consideration.
Modern radiators come in a variety of pleasing the eye designs. Depending on the room and the place the piece is to be mounted at, you can choose:
- a vertical radiator - Slim, narrow and tall, vertical radiators are a great solution for warming smaller spaces efficiently while making a good use of the limited available area in the best possible way. With their sleek design that adds a cool contemporary vibe and visually opens up the space, vertical radiators are perfect for bathrooms, foyers, home offices, up to living rooms and kitchens;
- a towel radiator - Designer towel radiators are both aesthetically attractive and highly functional, drying moist towels and preventing mould and condensation in the bathroom.
- a column radiator - Rather traditional, yet styled in new interpretations of build, and still with the best heating abilities, column radiators look contemporary and suit a range of modern homes interiors.
Designer radiators are made of the finest materials and boast off attractive colors and finishes complementing their unique designs.
Polished chrome and stainless-steel finishes are mostly common with vertical and towel radiators. Glossy surfaces bounce natural light around the room, adding a luxurious modern look of the interior styling. Cast iron is the traditional material for column radiators that would fit best into country and classical interiors. What would however make such a radiator "steal the show" is a trendy finish with metallic, speckled, or textured effect, as well as an industrial chic bare metal (often tinted) lacquer coating or galvanised finish.
When it comes to choosing a color for the radiator, the decision depends on whether you intend to "conceal" the unit or showcase it. So, it can either be of a muted color to blend-in with the surface behind, or it can stand out in bold, contrasting colors and make a truly designer piece in the design of the room.
'Good looks' is a feature to only better fit a radiator into the overall interior design. The functional application of the unit should, however, always have precedence and its efficiency is one of the paramount features to consider.
The choice of the right size and design of an efficient decorative radiator strongly depends on the size of the room, the number of windows, and whether there are any external walls. Modern radiators are made of highly conductive steel compounds, which helps them to heat up more quickly and therefore provide maximum heating efficiency.
When choosing a radiator, it would be wise to carefully consider the heat output you would expect your new jazzy unit to yield. What's important is that your radiator can distribute heat throughout the space in the best way possible.
Here are a few tips on the subject:
- column radiators have larger surface area, hence give off more heat and have therefore higher heating performance;
- vertical radiators would normally yield lower heat levels than horizontal units;
- typically, white radiators produce more heat than chrome or black radiators;
- highest potential heat output is found in aluminium radiators; they offer the best response and are the fastest to heat up and disperse heat.
Traditionally, radiators are being mounted under the windows to work best. Due to the modern designs and builds available, as well as the innovative energy-saving window joinery solutions, you now have the freedom to place a radiator wherever you like.
