The typical household radiator has always been regarded as a necessary, but not very attractive feature of the home. I you have a central heating system radiators are essential, but their boring and ugly designs have made them something to be disguised or hidden. Over the last two decade though, things have changed and a new generation of radiators have now become modern and highly stylish features of many homes.
We have seen the arrival of the "designer radiator".
Stylish designer radiators
With an ever increasing interest in house remodeling, radiator design has evolved into something of an art form with different profiles, shapes and surface finishes. Radiators can be finishes in stainless steel, brushed metal, or even brightly coloured paints and lacquers and their presence is no longer something to hide.
The first designer radiator
The bathroom radiator was probably the first radiator to really benefit from the attention of interior designers. They transformed the traditional radiator into a stylish modern design icon that fitted neatly into a bathroom.
Hence, the designer radiator was born.
Even more designer radiators started to emerge as more creative designs like the "tower" and "column" radiators began to appear on the high street. These tall "column like" radiators redefined the rules of radiator design by creating radiators that added to the aesthetics and style of a room.
The radiator was now something that could enhance a room.
Radiators as art
The next big milestone in radiator design was to take the new, but still angular, modern radiators and vary their looks and styling. This was done by adding curves to the previously vertical and horizontal designs and the first new arrival was the "wave" radiator. This radiator avoided the use of straight vertical radiator pipes and ninety degree angles by adding a "wave" or "ripple" effect to the radiator's tubing.
The wave shape is now one of the top sellers and it can be used to great effect and in any room in the house. These wave radiators can be found in a range of colours from pastel shades to matt black and their costs have fallen dramatically making them affordable to all.
Radiators for the future
New and more extravagant designer radiators are appearing all the time. At the top end of the scale there are the "super designer radiators". These are made from new materials and look nothing like a standard radiator. At the other end of the spectrum there are radiators that incorporate mirrors, reflective panels and even LED lights.
Some radiators have a "flat panel" designs, whilst others generate sculptural effects by bundling up the tubular radiator pipe work for a three dimensional impact. Naturally prices vary dramatically, but you can buy a very stylish radiator for comparatively little money.