No matter how modern the batteries are, they rarely fit perfectly into the interior, which does not benefit the appearance of the apartment. Let's figure out how you can decorate or hide the battery to improve the situation.
The easiest way is to hide the battery behind a special screen, which can be made of different materials(wood, metal, plastic and even glass) and is made in different styles. Glass screens can be decorated with photo printing, which will further integrate the battery with the interior of the room. The main condition is that the surface of the screen must be completely perforated or at least have large holes on the top, bottom and sides, allowing warm air to circulate freely.
The screen covers only the battery itself or the niche with the battery completely, which is typical for old houses; it's possible do it yourself by purchasing from hardware store any grill or panel with holes of suitable size.
Photos: grishaenkova.ru, pricedv.ru, jacekpartyka.com, home-designing.com, bertibarbera.com, furnirior.com, pinterest.com, ofdesign.net
Heating radiators are undoubtedly important for every room intended for human habitation. As a rule, the location of heating radiators is always visible. Therefore, their appearance significantly affects general form premises. During the repair process or in preparation for it, the issue of the appearance of heating radiators should be carefully considered. Don't your immediate life plans include renovations? – it doesn’t matter, there are solutions in this case too. Thanks to the availability of information, as well as the ability to purchase a variety of materials, decorating various interior items has become accessible to everyone, regardless of finances and handicraft abilities.
The correct approach to decorating a battery is based not only on the aesthetic component, it is also important functional purpose heating device
A very unfortunate decision - the movement of warm air is almost completely blocked
Possible decorative options for heating radiators are selected according to a number of parameters. In order for the result of the work to please you, when deciding on the choice of finishing for heating radiators, you should proceed from the following initial data:
It’s great if by reading this article you already know what exactly you want. If you have not yet decided what is the best way to proceed, then perhaps after reading it, a few great ideas will still appear. All you have to do is choose a method for converting heating radiators that suits your means and feasibility if you want to decorate the heating radiator with your own hands.
At major renovation premises, you can, of course, hide the battery in the wall using a niche made of plasterboard, chipboard or plastic. Ventilation of heat and removal of it from the battery, in in this case, is carried out through a grate, which must be installed in such a niche. As a rule, such niches are decorated with a grating made of chipboard or wood. It is possible to select both the grille itself and its frame according to the required color scheme. These grates are sold in a wide range, they are durable and transmit heat well.
Reading bench above the radiator
In addition, the issue of converting heating radiators can be solved by covering them with special decorative screens. Such devices can be installed directly in front of the heating radiators or in a hinged form.
Hanging screen made of thin wooden slats
Simple wooden grate, painted to match the wall decoration
A hanging metal screen slightly reduces heat transfer, is inexpensive and easy to install
These solutions cannot 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 radiator
At the same time, closing heating radiators serves the function of protecting small children from burns. Screens, boxes and niches are beautiful and can be matched to any interior. This type decor is used, as a rule, in living rooms and is ideal for them stylistic decision. Covering radiators in children's rooms with boxes and screens is the optimal 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 used as a battery box in the hallway of a village house
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 it using the decoupage technique.
The easiest way to make a screen is from wood
If you decide to make a panel for the 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 grille, which can be purchased at any building materials hypermarket
A frame must be installed in front of the battery
The front panel of the screen is secured with self-tapping screws
The result is a very attractive design.
The design of kitchens, not as strict as is customary for living rooms, gives free rein to imagination. In addition to the above-described ways to hide heating radiators, in the rooms where culinary masterpieces are created, designer delights are also created to decorate heating radiators. The radiator and the pipe connecting it to the heat source can be painted in the same color as the walls, decorated using the decoupage technique, or these two methods can be combined.
A battery painted to match the walls will be less conspicuous
An even greater effect can be achieved if you paint the battery to match the wallpaper
The battery can be displayed as part of an artistic composition
Many ideas are available on the Internet. Taking them as a basis, you can create a masterpiece on your own and without much labor or time, decorating the external elements of the heating system with an elegant or cheerful design. Battery decoupage involves transferring a design from a carrier onto the metal surface of a radiator. When decorated using the decoupage technique, batteries can be decorated using ready-made designs made on thin paper (both rice paper and ordinary decorative napkins are suitable). There are a lot of design options: flowers, wood decoration, geometric designs.
Rainbow battery
Khokhloma painting on a heating radiator
If you have artistic abilities, you can do without ready-made solutions and paint images directly onto 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 themselves. For decoupage you will also need glue; regular PVA will do.
Not every bathroom has separate radiators, except for the one that serves 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, as a result of which it has lost its appearance. The easiest way to give a heating device a presentable appearance is painting. The paint color 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 cover the battery in the bathroom with a mesh, 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 on top
To summarize, it should be noted that decorating a radiator is a creative process. When choosing a method for transforming heating radiators, the main thing is not to overdo it decorative elements, having withstood general style room decoration. It is also important to take into account that the main functional purpose of the radiator - heating the room in the cold season - should not be affected.
Decorate like old ones cast iron batteries, as well as modern products made of aluminum and bimetal. The latter are especially amenable to drawing, since the external design consists of flat plates on which it is convenient to apply a design.
When choosing a color, you should remember that for heating radiators they are made special paints that can withstand high temperatures.
It may leak and will have to be replaced or repaired. Therefore, it is better to choose designs that are easily removable. It is advisable that they do not have a fixed mount. Overlays with a folding door and a retractable mechanism are suitable. At a minimum, in the event of a breakdown, the valves, pipe connections, thermal head and threaded connections.
Second important point associated with the amount of heat entering the house. Any box reduces it. Especially if it is deaf, completely closed at the top or has a tight weave. It is better to choose something more open and not place the heater too deep. To do this, you can put a solid screen on the legs and cut a groove in the middle.
Another way to compensate for heat loss is to install a heat-reflecting screen behind the battery. For example, polyethylene foam.
The preparatory stage consists of cleaning and purging the heating device, as well as collecting tools. List of what you will need for work:
You can mask the entire wall or just the part under the window sill. The box is installed in the floor or leaving a gap above and below it. When marking, you need to take into account that the edges of the structure must protrude beyond the battery by at least 10 cm.
Another, visual instruction for covering gypsum boards in the video.
One of the simplest ways to design a radiator. Suitable for cast iron and steel panel structures. Modern models Aluminum will be difficult to paint. You will have to apply many layers, and the result will be unattractive. You can make them monochromatic, choosing a shade to match the interior, contrasting, or create beautiful drawing. In this case, stencils from art stores and decoupage techniques will help.
Water-dispersed, acrylic and alkyd are suitable for work. All of them are resistant to high temperatures. Acrylics dry faster and hardly emit unpleasant odor. Alkyds, on the contrary, are distinguished by caustic fumes. Water-dispersed compositions do not have this drawback, but they are less durable, wear out quickly, and scratches appear on them.
There are hammer paints for metal. They create a heterogeneous texture with a chasing effect. This good option, if you need to hide various defects old surface: chips, cracks.
You need to start painting from the preparatory stage:
The last plus is that lightweight fabric does not look as bulky as drywall, metal, wood, or MDF. The only negative is that this design is not suitable for apartments in a minimalist, high-tech or classic style.
Transform the radiator by making a false fireplace or sleeping place out of it. Decoupage batteries and a decorative screen will turn this heating device into a work of art.
If the battery has not been painted before, it must first be treated with an alkyd primer. If on heating device There is rust, it needs to be removed.
To get a beautiful bronze color, you need to mix black and red paint. If you wish, when decorating the battery, use spray paint.
If you have artistic abilities, then transform this heating device by drawing something suitable here. Look how nice these pencils look, each of them is made on a specific section of the battery.
You can use stickers that will turn the battery into musical instrument. If you have an unnecessary button accordion whose bellows are torn, you can make another creative idea, glue one and the second part of the keyboard to the radiator.
This option is also suitable for those who have long-lasting cast iron batteries. Here's how to do decoupage in this case. Take:
Enamel has a strong specific odor, so work in a ventilated area. It's even better if you cover your breathing organs with a respirator.
Before you start making it, prepare:
If you make the front panel yourself, then use a horizontal strip 18 cm wide and two vertical strips, each 12 cm wide. They are attached to each other using holes and dowels.
This question invariably arises among those who want to create an atmosphere in a city apartment country house. At the same time, you can “kill” two birds with one stone, not only create such a piece of furniture, but also hide an unsightly battery. Not everyone has it under the windowsill; for some, this heating item is mounted almost in the most visible place in the room.
If it happens that there is no putty on the farm, you can replace it with sealant or liquid nails. After these dry soft materials, you need to make the surface even with sandpaper.
This is how unusual and very stylish a DIY battery decor can be.
This option is suitable for those who have a lot of heat in winter. It will not be cold in such a room, the radiator is closed, but warm air will escape through the rear side openings. But if the boiler room does not work at 100%, in the cold season without hot battery there is no way around it, then don’t close it almost completely, as in the option presented above. The following idea will suit you.
To implement it you will use:
If you want to see a few examples of converting a radiator and window sill into a sleeping place, bench, table, then watch the following video collection.
If you want to carefully study how to decoupage a battery, then the next review is especially for you.
