Will this radiator/curtain combination look odd?

[ipadmad]

I will try to explain as best as I can ... for layout reasons, we have had a radiator installed under a large window (which is one set of French doors with a small window at each side of the French doors). However, the radiator is longer than the large window which means that when we hang curtains, one side of the radiator will be visible. We didn't think about the curtains until now.

Is this going to look stupid or is it one of those things I won't notice after a while? What do you think?

I would be very distressed to see any part of a radiator behind a curtain. Unless you have tropical birds in the garden and wish to keep them warm.

I'm confused, sorry - how can you have a window under a door?

Do you mean casement windows rather than French doors? I'm wondering how the hell you go out of the French doors which have a radiator under them??

Can't you extend the curtain track?

There are side windows either side of the French doors and the radiator is under one of the side windows, not the French doors.

I don't think it will be possible to extend the curtain track to cover the full length of the radiator, well it is possible I guess but I think that will look too long and then there's the extra £££ for the curtains.

It's madness to hang curtains over a radiator, regardless of how it looks. Could the radiator be moved? Blind over the window above the radiator?

Ah right - the confusion came in because you said you have French doors with a small window at each side and then said the radiator was under a large window.

With the set up you have, long curtains over the doors and shorter ones over the windows. Or Roman blinds. Don't put curtains over a radiator. I've noticed a bit of a thing on MN about not having sill length curtains when you can spend a fortune on floor length ones instead but to be honest, you might just as well throw money out of an open window as hang curtains over a radiator.

If you are absolutely wedded to the idea of long curtains over the lot then paint the radiator the same colour as the walls - emulsion works fine as does water based satinwood paint, no need for anything fancy. Don't use gloss as it will just flake off when you start putting the heating on.

Is this a back door, not overlooked? Just wondering whether curtains are absolutely necessary. I've seen blinds covering the length of French doors - you could have all blinds if you need the glass covering.

This sort of thing.

I'd go for blinds not cover the radiator.

Roman or you can get pleated style often used in conservatories.

We moved in a new house (sales house so came with curtains etc) They had lovely long interlined curtains but useless. Spent first few months tucking them on window sill until I got a roman blind and just leave them open as dress curtains.

Have you got enough room to put one long track/nice pole across the top of both windows and the door? Then hang a full length curtain on the side that does not have the radiator, this curtain would be wide enough to go across the window and the door. Then put nice blinds on both small windows (so they match).

You would need enough wall space to accommodate the curtain when it is all pushed back so that you don't block out too much light, this would also mean that you could use the door without any curtain getting in the way.

TBH I would probably also make the curtain wide enough so that in the summer it would cover both windows and the door, that way you don't need to bother with the blind and it all looks neater.