How To Paint Your Radiators Like A Pro

Want to give your radiators a more prominent place in your home? Today, we're going to show you how to transform them into fantastic decorative pieces that will bring something new and exciting to your rooms.
How To Paint Your Radiators Like A Pro

Last update: 27 July, 2020

Decorating your home doesn’t necessarily mean buying a whole load of new items that, in many cases, only really serve to clutter up your rooms. Sometimes, we need to look for alternative ways to spice up our interiors. So today, we want to look at how you can paint your radiators to transform them into beautiful and original decorative elements.

Instinctively, we often try to hide our radiators, making them as inconspicuous as possible. In this article, we want to turn this trend on its head and look for ways to make the most of them. It’s simply a question of finding new sources of inspiration and using a little imagination.

When you start to seek out more original ways to decorate your interiors, you set yourself apart from the rest of society. You travel down a new aesthetic path, that often takes you deep into uncharted territory. This journey of discovery can quickly help your home take on a life and a character of its own.

Designing your color scheme

A green radiator.

When it comes to painting your radiators, there is one important aspect you have to take into account. You need to choose colors that match the decor in the room itself, avoiding those that clash with your overall color scheme. As always, harmony is the key.

Remember, the goal here is to elevate your radiators to the status of true decorative elements. Don’t try to hide or mask them. Instead, try to make the most of them, and use them to enhance your interiors.

Contrast is going to be fundamental for this task. There must be a clear differentiation between the color of the walls and the color of your radiators. At the same time, the color you choose for your radiators should create a dialogue with the other decorative features in the room.

To achieve aesthetic harmony, you must establish a relationship between all the decorative elements in your room.

3 ways to paint your radiators

A formal gray radiator.

Needless to say, there are hundreds of different ways you could paint your radiators. However, you can’t just choose colors at random. It’s important to think carefully about the color combinations and the decor in the room as a whole. That way, your radiators will become an integral part of your overall look.

1. If your walls feature light tones, such as blue or white, you might want to consider using a darker color such as gray or ocher for your radiators. This will help them to stand out from the background, giving them more prominence in the room. Alternatively, you also have the option of painting your radiators the same color as the walls to create a more understated look.

2. If your walls are dark in color, such as navy blue, black, or gray, you might want to consider highlighting your radiators by painting them bright white. However, some people like to give their radiators an extra touch of glamour by applying a gold or silver tone.

3. Another option might be to paint your radiators in warm tones such as red, orange, or yellow. Whatever shade you choose, you’ll need to make sure that it harmonizes with another decorative element in the room, whether a piece of furniture or a shelf. At the same time, try to look for a color that will create contrast with your walls.

How to paint your radiators – cheerful or formal?

Two-toned design.

Colors can give our homes a specific aesthetic meaning, generating very different emotions and characters. Let’s take a look at which colors you can use to create a more formal feel, and which can be used to give your home a cheerful mood.

Needless to say, neutral colors aren’t generally associated with strong feelings of joy or happiness. In fact, gray tones tend to be seen as a more practical and understated option. So, if you really want to brighten up your room, reds, oranges, greens, or blues can help to create a beautiful and relaxing space.

If you want to give your home a more formal touch, dark colors such as blue or brown can help you achieve a more somber and sophisticated feel.

Patterned radiators

Patterned radiator cover.

When it comes to painting your radiators, you don’t just need to limit yourself to simple block colors.  You also have the option of using patterns and designs to help give your home a more welcoming feel.

Floral patterns such as leaves, trees, and flowers are some of the most popular designs, along with geometric patterns and simple 2D shapes. These are all great options when it comes to decorating your radiators, helping to give them those perfect finishing touches, and transforming them from unsightly eye-sores to wonderful decorative elements.

In children’s rooms, you also have the option of using themes and images such as clouds, unicorns, or anything else you like. Don’t be afraid to try out different designs! Paint your radiators however you like, and give your home a whole new look.


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  • Ahern, Abigail: Cómo decorar tu piso, Océano Ambar, 2010.