Go back 10, 15 or even 20 years and the only real option when replacing your radiators was the type 11 and type 22-style radiators.
These functional, yet unattractive heating solutions were commonplace in homes up and down the UK in the 1990s and 2000s.
In more modern times, thankfully, there are more options to choose from when upgrading your radiators, and one of the best options are designer radiators.
Designer radiators can add a real ‘wow factor’ to your room’s decor, while also serving to efficiently heat your room.
In this comprehensive Bathroom Takeaway guide, we talk you through all of the options to consider when purchasing a designer radiator.
What actually is a designer radiator?
Before we go any further with this expert guide, you might be asking yourself what actually is a designer radiator?
Essentially, a designer radiator is a radiator that goes beyond the normal. Whether it be a certain colour, style, finish or shape: a designer radiator has something special about it that normal radiators do not!
Think about it another way. Standard radiators are chosen purely for their ability to heat your room, designer radiators are chosen for the way they function AND the way they look.
Types of designer radiator panel (oval, flat or column)
A great place to start, when discovering designer radiators, is by understanding the different styles of radiator panel.
Oval column radiators have oval shaped bars (or panels) that make up the look of the radiator. This oval shape is a hugely popular style of designer radiator that can work in almost any setting.
Another popular style of designer radiator is a flat panel designer radiator. Flat panel designs have a distinctly ‘modern’ feel that give off a sleek, minimalist vibe.
Column radiators are traditional-style radiators that are modelled on radiators that adorned British homes in the 19th and early 20th century. Column radiators have a vintage, antique style that can become a real feature of your room.
BTU and radiator size
Another thing to consider when choosing a designer radiator is the size you need.
The key to getting this right is BTU.
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit and essentially it’s calculation of heat output. We’ve actually got a helpful BTU calculator online at Bathroom Takeaway that will calculate the optimum BTU rating for your room.
What you need to do is use this BTU rating to calculate the size of radiator for each room in your home.
Every radiator has a BTU rating, and this BTU rating is influenced by a raditator’s size and the amount of columns it has. Now all you need to do is match up the BTU rating of your radiator (or radiators) with the BTU rating of each room in your home. Simple!
Vertical or horizontal?
Designer radiators are available to buy in 2 orientations: horizontal or vertical.
Horizontal designer radiators are the most popular orientation. Horizontal designer rads are available to buy in lots of different widths and typically have heights of 300mm or 600mm.
Vertical designer radiatorsare a great idea if you want to save space. Vertical rads have exactly the same heat output as their horizontal counterparts however they take up less footprint in your room.
A good rule of thumb when picking the orientation of your radiator is that horizontal radiators make your room appear longer while vertical radiators make your room appear higher.
Electric, dual fuel or central heating?
The next thing to consider when buying a designer radiator is how you are going to heat it up.
Typically, there are 3 ways to power a designer radiator: central heating, electric or dual fuel.
Connecting your designer radiator to your central heating system is the most common way of heating a designer radiator. Using a central heating system is often the most efficient way to heat your rad and also the simplest.
Electric designer radiators are brilliant if you don’t have the option of connecting to your central heating system. Electric radiators work really well in places like your conservatory, a loft renovation or even a garage conversion. They are also a popular choice for rental properties and apartment buildings.
Dual fuel designer radiators are a little bit of a niche product but they can be a great addition to your home. Dual fuel rads give you the best of both worlds. In the winter, your radiator will be connected to your central heating system and then in the warmer months you can switch to electric.
Painted designer radiators
Did you know that you can now buy designer radiators in an array or cool, imaginative colours?
Forget white, black or anthracite radiators; painted designer radiators have exploded on the radiator scene in recent years.
Available in a host of amazing colours like Barbie pink, sunshine yellow or understated sapphire blue; painted rads are allowing people to take their home decor to the next level.
Another option to consider is hammered coloured radiators. Hammered rads are painted to look like they have been hammered into shape. This unique style of painted radiator has a distinctly industrial-vibe that looks good in more traditional settings.
Designer radiator accessories
When planning a designer radiator for your home, don’t forget to carefully plan your designer radiator accessories.
The right radiator accessories can add a nice finishing touch to your designer radiator.
Every designer radiator needs radiator valves, so this is a good place to start. A clever idea is to pair your designer radiator with colour matching radiator valves. Another idea to consider is to get contrasting colour valves, like a black designer radiator fitted with brushed brass radiator valves?
As well as the valves, you can also buy colour matching radiator pipes and collars. Now of course, you can buy the snap-on radiator pipe covers but we definitely recommend investing in solid pipes and collars.
Going with the whole colour matching theme, you can also buy colour matching radiator feet. Radiator feet are recommended if you’re installing a larger designer radiator however feet can also be installed just for the aesthetic look.
FAQs
Are designer radiators worth it?
Definitely! Designer radiators are totally worth it. Think about it, your home interior plays an important part of how you think and feel in any given room and your radiator can be a real feature of your decor.
For us, it’s a no-brainer that you would want designer radiators for your home and they cost a lot less than you might think too.
How fit a designer radiator?
A designer radiator is fitted just like any standard radiator.
Most designer radiators are mounted to your wall using secure brackets. For larger designer radiators, you can also add radiator feet to help support the weight.
For a more comprehensive guide on fitting radiators, head over to our expert guide.
