How to decorate a battery: recommendations from designers and heating engineers

Radiators are undoubtedly important for every room intended for people to stay. As a rule, the location of heating radiators is always in sight. Therefore, their appearance significantly affects the overall appearance of the room. During the repair process or preparing for it, the issue with the appearance of the heating batteries should be carefully considered. Does your next life plan include repairs? – it doesn’t matter, there are solutions in this case too. Thanks to the availability of information, as well as the possibility of purchasing a variety of materials, decorating various interior items has become available to everyone, regardless of finances and abilities for needlework.

The correct approach to decorating a battery is based not only on the aesthetic component, the functional purpose of the heater is also important.

A very unfortunate solution – the movement of warm air is almost completely blocked

Possible decor options for heating batteries are selected according to a number of parameters. In order to please the result of the work, when deciding on the choice of finishing heating radiators, one should proceed from the following initial data:

the initial properties of the object of decoration itself;
the style of the room in which the batteries are located;
the color scheme of the room and the style of its design;
functional purpose of the premises.

It’s great if by reading this article you already know exactly what you want. If you have not yet decided what is the best way to proceed, then perhaps after reading it, several great ideas will nevertheless appear. You will only have to choose a method of converting heating batteries, which is suitable for the means and the possibility of implementation, if you want to decorate the heating battery with your own hands.

Beauty at the expense of warmth

When overhauling the premises, you can, of course, hide the battery in the wall using a niche device made of plasterboard, chipboard or plastic. Ventilation of heat and its removal from the battery, in this case, is carried out through a grate, which must be arranged in such a niche. As a rule, such niches are decorated with a chipboard or wood lattice. It is possible to select both the lattice itself and its frame in the required color scheme. These grilles are sold in a large assortment, they are durable and pass heat well..

Reading bench above the battery

In addition, the issue of converting heating batteries can be solved by covering them with special decorative screens. Such devices can be installed directly in front of the radiators or carried out in a hinged form..

Hinged screen made of thin wooden slats

Simple wood grille painted to match the wall decoration

Hinged metal screen slightly reduces heat transfer, is inexpensive and easy to install

These solutions can not always be called optimal, since a very large part of the heat generated by the battery is wasted in this case. The effect is close to what would be achieved by hiding the battery behind the curtains..

Metal screen with openwork design

Any screen design must provide access to the heating battery

At the same time, closing the heating radiators serves the function of protecting small children from burns. Screens, boxes and niches are beautiful, they can be matched to any interior. This type of decor is used, as a rule, in living rooms and is an ideal stylistic solution for them. Covering batteries in children’s rooms with boxes and screens is the best solution for both safety and decorative purposes. A panel made of wood or chipboard can be decorated with bright patterns and used as a play element.

Screen Idea for High Battery

An old wooden bench in the role of a battery box in the hallway of a village house

DIY screen

However, you can make a screen for the battery yourself. Materials such as wood, chipboard or plywood are best suited for these purposes. It is advisable to paint these materials in the color of the room. In addition, plexiglass is perfect for these purposes. This material is safe. You can also apply suitable images with paint or decorate using the decoupage technique..

The easiest way to make a screen is from wood.

Having decided to make a panel for a battery yourself, you should remember the need to make holes in it. They are necessary for the passage of warm air from the battery into the room..

The front panel of the screen is made of 16 mm thick boards

It is convenient to use a perforated fiberboard panel as a lattice, which can be purchased at any hypermarket of building materials.

A frame needs to be installed in front of the battery

The front panel of the screen is fixed with self-tapping screws

The result is a very attractive design.

The best kitchen solutions

The design of kitchens, which is not as strict as is customary for living rooms, gives free rein to imagination. In addition to the above methods to hide heating batteries, in the rooms where culinary masterpieces are created, design delights are also created to decorate heating radiators. The battery and the pipe connecting it to the heat source can be painted in the color of the walls, you can decorate using the decoupage technique, or you can combine these two methods..

A battery painted to match the walls will be less conspicuous

Even more effect can be achieved if the battery is painted to match the wallpaper.

The battery can be displayed as part of an artistic composition

Lots of ideas are available on the web. Taking them as a basis, you can independently create a masterpiece without much labor and time, decorating the external elements of the heating system with an elegant or cheerful pattern. Decoupage of a battery is a transfer of a drawing from a carrier onto a metal surface of a radiator. When decorating using the decoupage technique, batteries can be decorated using ready-made drawings made on thin paper (both rice paper and ordinary decorative napkins are suitable). There are a lot of design options: flowers, wood-like design, geometric patterns.

Battery rainbow

Khokhloma painting on the heating battery

If you have artistic ability, then you can do without ready-made solutions and apply images with paint directly to the surface. For such work, you will need heat-resistant paints and varnish. The latter is necessary for those who decide to decoupage the battery on their own. You will also need glue for decoupage, ordinary PVA will do.

Battery decoration in the bathroom

Not every bathroom has separate batteries, except for the one that acts as a heated towel rail. Modern products are quite aesthetic. The need for decoration arises if the battery has not been replaced for a long time, due to which it has lost its appearance. The easiest way to give the heater a presentable appearance is to paint it. The color of the paint is selected according to the color of the room. Of course, the product to be painted is thoroughly cleaned. However, decoupage in the bathroom is just as appropriate..

An example of successful use of a battery as a bright accent

In addition, it is possible to close the battery in the bathroom with a net, which can act as a storage system..

Protective screen with storage shelves

The battery can be hidden in a stylish cabinet

Or leave it in plain sight, covering it with a shelf

Summing up, it should be noted that decorating a radiator is a creative process. When choosing a way to transform heating radiators, the main thing is not to overdo it with decorative elements, maintaining the general style of room decoration. It is also important to take into account that the main functional purpose of the radiator should not be affected – heating the room in the cold season..

They decorate both old cast-iron batteries and modern products made of aluminum and bimetal. The latter are especially malleable for drawing, since the external design consists of flat plates on which it is convenient to apply a drawing..

When choosing coloring, it should be remembered that special paints are produced for heating radiators that can withstand high temperatures..