Radiator Covers. . . . . Yes or No?

[SlB09]

Bought a new house, radiator cover throughout - can't decide whether tj leave be or I want to rip them all out as abit of me thinks they are unnecessary tat!!!!
Opinions please, are they still fashionable?!

Some are beautifully designed and are handy for extra 'display' space (photo frames, trinkets, etc).

I've always been in two minds about them as well. But I bought one on whim for the hall, I was looking for a second craft table on eBay & saw a bargain radiator cover for sale locally. As it was so cheap I thought I'd give it a go & if I didn't like it I could put it back for sale. It transformed the hall & looks loads better than a bare radiator. It's now a handy shelf for candles, flowers etc.

@Houseofmirth66 so true!!!

Ok, so what are considered 'nice' radiators?!

We bought a house with them and DH hated them to went round unscrewing them, but the wouldn't come off so he used a crowbar and broke them apart. He did the majority before fully removing the first one, where we uncovered the most fugly radiators you've ever seen! We ended up having to replace them all.

I like them in the kids bedrooms as they can't burn themselves on it, or in a hallway or narrow space where you're more likely to brush against it and burn yourself. Kitchen and living room have to have no covers so you can use them to dry things

I don't see what's wrong with the look of a radiator normally and I'd be concerned that they block heat.

Ridiculous things. There’s a climate emergency!

I hate them. We'll be inheriting them in our next house and they'll be the first thing to go. Utterly pointless. I'd rather have a warm home.

I don’t think of them as naff at all. We don’t have any anyway !

We put them up when DD was a baby, brilliant for keeping toddlers safe. DD is now 12 and removing them made quite a mess of the wall.

Mhm, following with interest.

I wouldn’t fit them, but if they’re there and look ok, then I’d leave them.

@Houseofmirth66

You can’t dry your pants on a radiator cover.

I dry mine using a green stick (i.e. a small branch freshly taken from a tree/bush) with my pants on the end, held closely to an open fire - not too close mind, because they can scorch - and those are definitely scorch marks, I can assure you.

That's funny, I don't think of them as tatty or naff at all though the ones I've seen have always been in good condition and pretty cutout designs. Useful surface space for candles etc. But totally inefficient I would imagine, especially with energy bills already going up.

@MaskingForIt

New as in new build? I’d be amazed if a new build had them, I thought they were always seen as a bit tacky and naff.

This reads as though you're saying new builds AREN'T (generally) tacky and naff?!

I hate them

they're no worse than putting crinolines on the legs of your grand piano.

Personally i think they look better than an ugly radiator. I have one in the hall and living room. Neither effect heat.

I think the bespoke covers look lovely, especially in a hallway. Not so keen on the cheap B&Q ones though, I think a nice cast iron radiator would be better (although dangerous for children, the elderly and pets when hot.

I have two, one in the hallway and the 2nd in the bathroom.

I think they're nicer than an ugly radiator.
I have one in the hall.
But not over the other ones in the house which are more hidden.
I had it made and I really like it.

We have one in the hall and I love it, it looks better than the bare radiator and we have a few small storage boxes on top which are so useful.

I would rather replace the radiator with a smart modern design than cover them up. You can get some amazing styles online to fit to your existing system, and at prices not much in excess of the cover kits, which also prevent the radiators from, well, radiating heat!

@Houseofmirth66

You can’t dry your pants on a radiator cover.

This sounds like it should be the title of a country album.