If you are living in a cold climate, you might have some radiators at home, and if you have a basic one, you may not like its look – that often happens. Some people decide on covering radiators in their homes, with special screens, building cabinets over them and so on but there’s one more, simpler way to make your radiator close to invisible: a shelf. Placing a shelf over the radiator will draw the eyes to it, especially if you add decor, and will make your small nook look cooler. Let’s take a look at some of such ideas but first of all let’s find out
Is It Safe To Place A Shelf Above A Radiator?
It’s totally safe to do so if you leave 5 cm between the radiator and the shelf. This way you won’t prevent hot air circulation and won’t lose the heat and simultaneously won’t heat up things on the shelf. Still, I’d recommend to choose a shelf of heat-resistant materials or at least treat the wood to make it more resistant.
What Are Radiator Shelf Advantages?
The main advantage I’d name is hiding the radiator itself. How? The trick is quite easy: paint the radiator the color of the wall, so that they merged, and then add a contrasting shelf of a different color or material or both and voila, your radiator will be close to invisible. The second advantage is styling awkward nooks and squeezing maximum of a small space. If you radiator is in a small nook or in a tight entryway, you can still add style and even a bit of storage surface with such a smart solution. The third advantage is that a shelf over the radiator can direct the hot air flow into the room and not up to the ceiling.
The Scandinavian space done with grey walls, a tile floor, a black ledge with decor over the radiator and a round mirror.
The stylish space is done with a black radiator, a black shelf with decor, a stylish arched frame mirror.
The black radiator is covered with a thick wooden shelf, with decor and greenery and a round mirror over the shelf.
The sleek black radiator covered with a wooden shelf, with greenery and decor.
The radiator with a bookshelf and a shelving unit over it plus a black lamp for saving space and using every inch.
The black radiator and a whole green shelving unit over it are a cool solution for any space, the radiator is integrated in a stylish way.
The metallic radiator covered with a sleek light-stained shelf and lovely decor plus a round mirror.
Thedark green wall done with a white radiator, a stained shelf over it, some decor and candles and a round mirror.
The Scandinavian entryway done with a radiator, a tall mirror, a shelf with decor and a gallery wall.
Cover your radiator with a wooden shelf with decor, this shelf will double as a console table.
What Are Radiator Shelf Disadvantages?
The main disadvantage can appear only in case you place the shelf without any gap between it and the radiator, and it will block out some heat. Besides, the shelf in such a case can wrap. But if you leave a gap, that won’t happen.
How To Make Radiator Shelves?
Though you can buy such a piece, DIYing it will be faster and easier as you will be able to make it to the measurements at once and personalize it as you need. A traditional small and sleek shelf is usually made of wood or maybe reclaimed wood, and it may feature some living edge for a more natural and edgy touch. You may also use some ledges if you don’t want to craft any shelves. If you want to make use of the whole corner with your radiator, you can build a shelving system around it, which will not only provide you with a lot of storage space but will also hide your radiator even better distracting attention from it.
The pretty combo of the modern white radiator and a stained vintage-inspired shelf with elegant decor and plants.
This large radiator is covered with a wall-mounted shelf, with candles, vases and potted greenery plus a gallery wall over the shelf.
The black wall and radiator match so well that it doesn't stand out at all, the shelf is styled with pretty bold decor and potted plants.
A small ledge can be also a nice cover for a radiator, add it to be able to place your mug or a candle on it if you want to.
The Scandinavian entryway is done with a black radiator, a tiled floor, a shelf over the radiator, some chic decor and pampas grass and an arched mirror.
The Nordic space with a small radiator and a wooden shelf over it, with pampas grass and decor plus a mirror.
The grey radiator contrasts the light-stained shelf that is held with black brackets.
A living edge will add interest to your radiator and shelf combo, and potted plants and greenery can be a nice idea for an entryway.
The black wall is a sleek backdrop for the metallic radiator to stand out, the long shelf is styled with cool decor.
The long stained shelf is a console for the entryway, you can place whatever you like there: decor, plants, key plates.
The reclaimed wood shelf is used as a plant stand, and colorful candles add interest to the space.
This long light-stained shelf with curved corners looks sleek and chic, the wood texture adds interest to the space.
The olive green wall and the matching radiator look very sleek, and the shelf over the radiator is a nice addition, potted greenery make the space fresher.
The sturdy wall-mounted shelf can hold a lot, and here it's a plant stand, with cacti, a sign and a table lamp.
How To Style Radiator Shelves?
Radiator shelves can be styled in many ways depending on the space where they are. The most popular placing for such a shelf is an entryway, and here you will usually need a key plate or some hooks, some potted plants, perhaps not real ones, candleholders, books and a mirror. If it’s a bathroom, here your shelf can be used as a storage for supplies or towels. In a living room, such a shelf can hold mugs, candles or books. If you are going to use this shelf as a plant stand, make sure that these plants like heat or use artificial ones. Get inspired!
The reclaimed wood shelf with a plant and a copper candle lantern is a nice addition to the entryway.
The vintage space done with a black radiator, a stained shelf with decor and candles, a gallery wall over it.
The black radiator paired with the live edge shelf compose a catchy and cool look, and stylish decor on top adds to the space.
The scallop edge shelf is done with a candle and greenery and a hat over it, and all together they compose a cottage-like look.
The radiator and a whole corner shelving system built over it, with books and decor is a cool idea for the space.
The radiator is integrated in the whole shelving system on the wall, with decor, a mirror, potted plants and other stuff.
The butcherblock shelf with Scandinavian decor are a lovely combo for the Nordic space.
The Scandinavian entryway is done with a black bench and pillows, a radiator and a shelf with candles, plants and grasses, a gallery wall.
The elegant rich-stained shelf doubles as a storage piece for bathroom supplies.
The sleek entryway is done with a small radiator, a butcherblock shelf, books and decor and some greenery and a round mirror.
The dark-stained small shelf contrasts the white radiator, plants and candles make the space cooler and catchier.
The Scandinavian space with the radiator and a rich-stained shelf and potted plants, a small gallery wall.
The small radiator is covered with a thick shelf that is styled with dried blooms and grasses and a candle.
The small radiator is covered with a thick shelf that is used as a plant stand.
The black radiator covered with a stained shelf, with candles, greenery and an artwork.
This stained shelf is done with candleholders, photos, candles, a star and potted greenery.
The radiator is covered with a shelf to make the use of this awkward corner, with an artwork and greenery and blooms.
The tiny living edge shelf is done with grasses and a candle holder to make the use of this small nook and add style to it.
This long shelf is a console in a living room, with candles, candleholders, potted greenery and a gallery wall over it.
The Scandinavian space is done with a navy wall, a white radiator that stands out and a floating shelf, with lights, candleholders, a vase with grasses and greenery.