How to close the radiators under the windowsill. How to close a radiator: ways to properly hide a radiator with your own hands (105 photo ideas). Making a screen for decorating a battery

When an unsightly heating radiator spoils the interior, there are several ways to solve the problem: replace it with a designer or in-floor model, or simply cover it with a screen/box. The latter method provides several advantages:

A screen or box not only hides a bulky structure, but often decorates the room.
The screen/box can be used to build an additional console, a shelf for decoration, a bench, a rack, or a desktop.
A closed battery is safer for children - there is no risk of burns or accidental impacts. However, one can argue with this argument, because it is in the children's room that heat loss is least needed.

In a children's room, the radiator should be covered with a nice grille with big amount holes, for example, carved as in this photo

If the house is too hot and dry, then closing the radiator will help create a comfortable microclimate for household members, their pets and plants.
The screen prevents dust from settling in the inside of the radiator and thus simplifies cleaning.

There are also disadvantages:

Heat dissipation closed battery decreases on average by 10-15% or more (depending on the degree of closure);
Screens and boxes often make it difficult to service radiators, and sometimes even block access to them.
Often, improperly closed batteries lead to fogging of windows, and then to the appearance of harmful mold on slopes and walls.
The screen or box, at least a little, “eats up” the space around the radiator. After all, any elements should be installed at a distance of 5-10 cm from the battery.
Battery fencing requires additional expense and hassle.

How to cover radiators - 11 ways from a plasterboard box to a fabric screen

1. Decorative screen/box made of HDF

This option is one of the most popular due to its average price and beautiful appearance.

What is the difference between a box and a screen? The screen is designed for a battery located in a niche or under a window sill (pictured above), therefore, it covers only its front part. The box completely covers the radiator on the wall from all sides.

The screen, like the box panel, is made of perforated HDF sheet high density 3 mm thick), but the box profiles are made of MDF. Both materials are quite strong, durable and non-toxic when heated.

Advantages:

Due to the original perforation, HDF screens/boxes look beautiful and fit into any interior, especially to classic .
Heat resistance (the structure does not dry out like natural wood and does not turn yellow like plastic).
Easy to assemble and install without the help of specialists.
Ready-made HDF screens/boxes can be white or imitate wood (wenge, beech, oak), and custom-made ones can be painted in any color, laminated, veneered natural wood. True, the complexity of the design always affects the price of the screen.

Flaws:

MDF and HDF do not tolerate prolonged contact with water. If the battery leaks or a pipe breaks, the elements of the box/screen may swell. Therefore, any emergency situations must be resolved immediately.
Perforated panels, despite their thinness, are quite durable due to the high density of fiberboard. However, they must be protected from impacts and sharp objects.
Perforation sections in factory screens are not painted and are therefore visible.

Price: from 1500 rubles for a finished model and from 2300 rubles for an individual order.

Selection tips:

The size of the radiator niche must correspond to the size inside screen.
Screens and boxes for batteries can be either ready-made (assembled like a kit) or manufactured according to custom sizes and design (you can choose a perforation pattern).

Here is a small selection of photos of closed batteries.

Closed battery in the interior of a small kitchen in Khrushchev

2. A plasterboard box

How to cover a battery with drywall? Using this material, you can cover the radiator with a box or create a niche for it in a false wall.

Advantages:

Environmental friendliness;
Can be used in damp areas;
Material available;
With a false wall you can cover the pipes and expand the window sill;
You can close the battery with a plasterboard box with your own hands without special skills in a few hours of work;
You can think through the configuration of the box and false wall yourself, if you wish, equip it with shelves and niches, and additionally cover the pipes connected to the battery. Next, you can look at a photo of a closed battery in a plasterboard false wall with an enlarged window sill-bench and a built-in niche for books.

Flaws:

The main disadvantage of a plasterboard box is that this material is afraid of shocks and leaks. If something goes wrong, you will have to completely change the battery casing along with the finishing.
A false plasterboard wall for the radiator and pipes “eats up” the space, as it is placed 30-35 mm forward from the extreme point of the radiator.

As a rule, a frame made of HA must be made at the renovation stage, because its finishing must coincide with the finishing of the walls.

In the following photos you can see finished interior kitchens with a closed radiator and a plasterboard box in the process of renovation.

Design and Manufacturing Tips:

Before covering the radiator with a plasterboard box, be sure to put it in order: blow it out, wash it (this is done at the end of the heating season) and paint it. In the future, doing this without dismantling the box will be difficult or even impossible.
The box can be installed on the floor or “hang” on the wall.
When designing the box, keep in mind that the window sill canopy must protrude above the front of the box by at least 30 mm. If necessary old window sill should be replaced with a wider one.

Visual instructions on how to cover the battery and pipes with a false plasterboard wall are presented in the video below.

And here is a video tutorial on how to cover a radiator with a box.

3. Furniture

In the kitchen, the battery along with the window sill can be built into a set or bar counter, and in the living room, bedroom and hallway - into a bench, console or shelving unit.

This slider presents a selection of photos of closed radiators under the bench.

The main condition: in the window sill/lid above the battery you need to provide enough holes for air circulation, and the facade (if there is one) covering the battery must be equipped with a grille (see photo below). Otherwise, there is a risk of windows fogging up and cold in the room.

Sometimes, to hide a heating radiator, it is enough to rearrange the furniture and cover the device, say, with a sofa, armchair or console. In order not to disturb the air circulation, it is better to place the piece of furniture away from the radiator (at least 10 cm), it is also advisable that it stands on legs - this way convective flows will not be blocked.

4. Fabric curtain

This method of disguise is good for rented housing or when the problem of unsightly batteries needs to be solved at minimal cost. The advantages of the curtain are obvious: a piece of fabric is inexpensive, and the choice of colors is very large (you can change the “screens” according to your mood), while the battery always remains available for repair and inspection.

5. Natural wood screen

Advantages:

Beautiful and expensive appearance even in the simplest design;
Environmental friendliness;
Good heat dissipation and ability to accumulate heat.

Flaws:

Wood is capricious - poorly prepared wood can swell from a leak or warp from heat;
A wooden screen requires special care;
High price.

Prices: from 3,000 rubles for the simplest models and from 10 thousand rubles for premium wooden screens.

Here are some photos of beautifully sealed batteries.

6. Glass screen

A glass screen is an excellent decorative solution, but from a thermal engineering point of view it is very controversial.

Advantages:

Design for every taste - the glass panel can be transparent and colored, matte and shiny, with or without a sandblasted pattern, with beveled or polished edges;
Glass can look neutral or very bright;
Glass visually looks light and adds airiness to the interior;
Ease of care;
Strength;
Durability;
Heat resistance;
Moisture resistance;
Absolutely environmentally friendly.

Flaws:

More suitable for modern rather than classic interiors;
“Eats” up to 40-50% of heat (infrared radiation);
High price;
Fingerprints may remain on the glass;
The panel does not cover the ends of the battery;
Screen installation most often requires the help of a specialist.

The battery shield must only be made from tempered glass. This is the only way it will be absolutely safe and shockproof.
Glass screens are good for use in rooms with excess heat.

7. Metal box

Advantages:

Practically do not interfere with heat transfer;
Low price;
Easy care;
Absolute moisture and heat resistance.

Flaws:

“Office” appearance that will not fit into every interior.

Selection tips:

A metal screen for a battery can look very nice if you order its production from a company specializing in laser cutting metal or forging.

8. A rattan box or screen

Most often, rattan fabric refers to an artificial rattan mesh woven from cellulose-based fibers reinforced with nylon thread. Artificial rattan is very similar to natural rattan, but unlike it, it is more practical and can be painted in any color. Screens from natural rattan They have natural beauty and durability, but they cost twice as much, and they are much more difficult to find on sale.

Advantages of a rattan screen:

Environmental friendliness;
Beautiful view;
Strength;
Elasticity;
Good heat dissipation.

Flaws:

The weaving of artificial rattan is quite dense, which can affect heat transfer;
The screen must be protected from water.

Prices: from 1,700 rubles (artificial rattan screen).

Rattan fabric (both artificial and natural) can be used to make a battery screen with your own hands. To do this, you need to assemble the box with the frame at the corners, attach the mesh to the inside of the frame, then install the box on the radiator using brackets.

9. Hinged metal screen

The metal structure consists of a cover and a screen and is hung on top of the battery without fixation.

Advantages:

Easy installation;
Simple dismantling, which facilitates radiator maintenance;
Profitable price;
Durability;
Does not reduce battery efficiency.

Flaws:

The ends of the battery remain visible;
Almost always, suspended screens are grilles without any decoration.

There must be high-quality enamel that does not scratch;
It should hold tightly and be easily removed;
The screen metal must not be subject to corrosion.

10. Curtains to the floor

Masking the radiator with curtains is a great idea, approved by both heating engineers and decorators. The only problem is that it won’t be possible to hide the battery under the window behind a curtain without shading the room. Unless you hang very light tulle like in this photo.

Ability to independently change the panel size;

Suitable for kitchens, bathrooms and toilets, that is, rooms with high humidity;

Affordable price.

Flaws:

It looks simple, no frills;
Over time, the plastic may turn yellow;
When heated, low-quality plastic can release toxic substances, such as formaldehyde.

Prices: from 300 rubles.

Selection tips:

Plastic battery screens are available in basic colors: white, gray, brown, beige. If desired, the screen can be painted in the desired color with alkyd spray paint for plastic;
Choosing plastic screen for the battery, make sure it is heat resistant and non-toxic.

How to close batteries correctly - technical rules and tips

Before closing the radiator, you need to take into account several technical nuances:

Keep in mind that heat transfer closed radiator is reduced in any case, no matter what method of masking you choose. The main thing is that the change is not significant. Ideally, the decrease in air temperature in the room should be about 1-1.5 degrees.
Before closing the battery, put it in order: blow it out, wash it (this is done at the end of the heating season) and paint it.
Keep in mind that the denser the grille weave, the better it masks the radiator, but the worse it conducts heat. Therefore, when choosing a screen for a battery, try to look for a middle ground or rely on heat saving.
To minimize heat loss, the screen can be placed on legs and a groove can be cut in the center.

When closing the battery, it is very important not to block convective air flows, otherwise it will blow in the room and the windows will begin to fog up, which will ultimately lead to the appearance of mold on the walls. Ideally, the window sill visor should protrude no more than 30 mm above the radiator; the top and bottom of the radiator should be as open as possible.
There should be a distance of at least 35-50 mm between the battery and the screen. There should be a gap of about 60-70 mm from the radiator to the floor and to the window sill.
To resolve emergency situations, it is necessary to provide free access to the radiator. For example, the box grille can be removable, folding (see photo), opening on hinges or sliding out on profiles.

At a minimum, for trouble-free maintenance, the following must remain in good accessibility: pipe connections, valves, thermal head and threaded connections.

You can increase heat transfer by 20-25% by placing a heat-reflecting screen, for example, fumisol, on the wall behind the radiator. Often this is quite enough to completely compensate for the heat loss of a closed battery.

Heating radiators cannot always serve as interior decoration. Therefore, they have to be hidden, decorated with all possible ways. Let's try to figure out how to do this beautifully and correctly.

Features and Requirements

Decorating heating radiators is not like that simple task, as it might seem at first glance. It is necessary not only to hide the unsightly radiator, but also to preserve comfortable temperature in room. Obviously, closed batteries provide much less heat, and access to them becomes difficult.

In order to properly close the radiators and not reduce heat transfer (or at least reduce it slightly), you need to understand how radiators heat the room and on what principle they work. And choose the decor so that it represents minimal interference when the batteries perform their functions.

Removable or attached screens that do not have solid fastenings are well suited for this. This is necessary so that the radiator can be accessed at any time. Such a need may arise unexpectedly, and if the battery is mounted in the wall, plasterboard box or covered with a screen “tightly” attached to the wall, the structure will have to be broken. It will not be possible to dismantle it without damage.

Another important criterion when choosing decor is how much it will affect heat transfer. Heating of the room occurs due to the release of infrared radiation (it heats objects) and convection (it directly heats the air).

Solid screens, devoid of gaps at the bottom and top, will become a serious obstacle for both the first and the second. The best option would be perforated, carved or lamella screens that do not cover the battery either from above or from below. Or closing slightly.

In order for the air to warm up evenly, it must be able to freely enter from the bottom of the battery, pass through it and exit from the top already warm. A tightly “sealed” radiator does not give it this opportunity, which is why the temperature drops. As for IR radiation, it simply cannot pass through a solid, impenetrable screen, which provides almost one hundred percent thermal insulation of the battery.

Recently, you can see that batteries are often covered with glass screens with photo printing. Of course, such a solution has high decorative properties, however, the temperature in a room equipped with such decor drops significantly.

The optimal solution for any interior would be a wooden perforated or carved screen. The main thing is that it has as little continuous surface as possible and as many holes as possible to allow air to circulate freely. In addition to the fact that wood fits harmoniously into almost any interior style, it is also necessary to highlight its environmental friendliness. When heated, it will not release any harmful substances. On the contrary, when exposed to heat, wood releases essential oils, which provide positive influence on human health (of course we're talking about about natural wood).

Economical ways

To hide old heating batteries, it is not at all necessary to use expensive materials and designs. There are many budget-friendly ways to close unsightly radiators while maintaining high heat transfer rates and easy access to the system.

These methods include:

Coloring. Even old, Soviet models of batteries can be turned into a stylish element of the interior by painting them to match the walls or, conversely, in a contrasting color. The costs are minimal, and the benefits are obvious: quick access to the radiator is maintained, convection is not hampered in any way, and the room remains at a comfortable temperature. Such radiators will fit into any interior, from modern loft to classic, the main thing is to choose the right color.
Textile. The simplest thing is to cover the radiators with curtains that go down to the floor. The main thing is to ensure that there is no possibility of the fabric catching fire from too hot batteries. Or - if the option with curtains is not entirely acceptable - you can stretch a fabric over a wooden frame that matches the color of all the other textiles in the room, and cover the radiators with this screen. Air easily passes through the fabric; it does not present any obstacle to this, which means that heat transfer will not decrease.
The use of materials such as plastic, MDF panels, and drywall will also be inexpensive. However, they also have a significant drawback - a decrease in heat in the room. And from the point of view of environmental friendliness, these materials leave much to be desired. The same plastic, for example, is better used in the bathroom to turn off the tap, in the kitchen, that is, in rooms with high humidity, where the same wood, the same metal will quickly become unusable due to external factors. Boxes made of MDF panels or plasterboard have good thermal insulation properties, which in this case absolutely not necessary. And it will be difficult to get close to the system.

Of course, low cost is a significant advantage of the material, and for many it is decisive. However, we should not forget that its main function is to provide not only the aesthetic appeal of the heating system, but also warmth in the apartment. Therefore, you should not focus solely on price.

Good combination accessibility, aesthetics, environmental friendliness and ability to transmit heat have wooden structures. A simple lattice made of narrow slats, which are sold in any hardware store, can effectively hide radiators and will not interfere with them normal operation. In addition, such a solution will look natural in any interior. It is not for nothing that wood has been used since ancient times to decorate houses. Its unique natural aesthetics, the warmth and comfort that it brings to the home are still appreciated and in demand.

If, as a background for carved wood panel choosing a metal sheet - copper or aluminum - this decision will bring double benefits. The wood will take on a decorative function, and thanks to the metal, the temperature in the room will not only not decrease due to the closed radiator, but may even increase.

Examples in the interior

Decorating or hiding radiators in a room beautifully so that they are not a “fly in the ointment” and do not spoil the entire appearance of the room is not such a difficult task. Modern materials allow us to solve this issue with minimal costs.

Vertical, horizontal, sectional, copper, cast iron – modern market offers a wide variety of radiators to suit every taste.

A battery with a bright, cheerful color, such as yellow, will look good in a children's room - it has a positive effect on nervous system and the emotional state of a person.

New models, unusual for the eyes - vertical radiators. They are located vertically on the wall and can occupy the entire height from floor to ceiling. This element looks quite stylish and does an excellent job of maintaining a comfortable temperature in the room.

There are several options to disguise a heating radiator and make its decoration an exclusive part of the interior. It is also known that heating radiators emit infrared rays, which are harmful to human health, and the lining of the radiators dissipates these radiations.
That's why decorative finishing Heating batteries not only complement the interior, but also protect our health.

A variety of materials are used to decorate heating radiators:

dye;
natural wood;
MDF board;
perforated stamped sheets of of stainless steel;
textile;
drywall;
powder paint;

Finishing batteries with MDF board

Finishing with an MDF board with a laminate that imitates the structure of valuable tree species will enhance the stylish interior of your room. This finishing of heating radiators can also be used in offices, hotels, and country houses.

Advantages of finishing heating radiators with MDF board:

This finish easily withstands temperature changes.
It does not dry out or warp when humidity and temperature change.
MDF board is quite strong and durable.
The MDF board finish has a stylish and modern look.
She has good performance qualities.
No toxic resins are used in the manufacture of MDF boards; this material is environmentally friendly.

These characteristics of MDF material for finishing radiators were appreciated by numerous consumers.

Finishing radiators with natural wood

Finishing with natural wood is always beautiful and noble. This one is environmentally friendly pure material can provide widest choice colors and structural patterns.

Wealthy clients most often order finishing of radiators together with mahogany furniture according to individual design solutions. Finishing heating radiators with wood has a beneficial effect on health.
After all, when heated, wood does not emit harmful fumes into the air. And there are tree species such as linden, Canadian cedar, oak, alder and others that, when heated, emit medicinal aromas that are beneficial to human health.
Decorating a heating radiator with wood can radically transform the interior of your room.

Cladding batteries with metal sheets

Heating radiator finishing metal sheets most often it is a box, which is subsequently painted in a certain color.

This battery finish has a fairly low cost.
Finishing the battery with stamped stainless steel sheets is much more expensive. This finish looks more beautiful and elegant when a perforated sheet of metal with original drawing holes.
Installing this finish is very simple. In some cases, the stainless steel box is simply put on the radiator.

Battery trim with fabric

An original solution is to cover the radiators with a fabric whose color and pattern harmonizes with the curtains in the window opening. This type of decoration looks very beautiful.
You can hang fabric on the radiator using various curtain rods.

You can also decorate the battery in an original way. wooden frame, inside which strips of fabric are intertwined. TO wooden frame The strip frames are secured with a furniture stapler.
This trim can simply be put on the battery.

Painting radiators

The coloring of the batteries should not only have protective properties, but also fit into the interior of the room.

To paint batteries, paints with the following characteristics are required:

They must withstand high temperatures, not crack or change color.
Paint for batteries must have high anti-corrosion properties.
When heated, the paint should not emit toxic radiation or unpleasant odors.

The following paints have these properties:

alkyd enamel;
water-based paint;
acrylic enamel;

All these paints withstand exposure well high temperature, non-toxic, do not emit unpleasant odors after drying, have sufficient long term services.

Finishing radiator screens using thermography

In specialized stores you can find screens for radiators, which are decorated with various designs.

These screens are made from high-quality sheet metal, onto which a pattern is applied using thermography using powder paint. This results in a convenient and beautiful product.

Do-it-yourself plasterboard finishing of a heating radiator

Such a battery does not fit into the interior of the room; it must be closed. This is easy to do with your own hands, using drywall for this purpose.

Before you begin, you need to determine the amount of materials you will need. To do this, you need to measure the battery.
The hardware store will offer you drywall for various purposes and colors. It is advisable to choose a wall moisture resistant drywall since during heating operation condensation may appear on the casing.
You can choose the color of the drywall to your liking.
To complete this job, you will need the following tools and materials:

metal profile 27 and 60, or wooden beam 40 by 60 mm;
fasteners;
flat and Phillips screwdriver;
electric drill with hammer drill function;
fine-tooth hacksaw;
metal scissors;
glue “liquid nails”;

Let's start making the frame. It can be made from wooden beam or metal profile.

Attention: you must be very careful when marking lines for attaching guide bars or profiles. The slightest inaccuracy will lead to the entire cladding becoming warped. Therefore, we must check the installation of all profiles using a level.

We determine the distance from the wall to the farthest point of the battery and add 3 cm to it. This will be the gap between the cladding and the battery.
At this distance from the wall, strictly parallel, we fix the lower guide for the profile or a beam for a wooden frame using dowels. We attach the upper guide from a 27 by 28 profile or a wooden beam to the window sill.

There are three options for mounting this guide:

If the battery protrudes beyond the window sill (see How to finish a window sill). In this case, the guide must be attached to the end of the window sill so that it is at the level of the battery plus 3 cm for the gap.
If the window sill is flush with the radiator. In this case, the guide should be 3 cm thick and it should also be attached to the end of the window sill.
In the case where the window sill is much wider than the battery, we attach the guide from below to the window sill at a distance of the point of the battery farthest from the wall plus 3 cm.

After this, we install vertical jumpers from a 60 by 27 profile or wooden beam.

Please note: the top and bottom guides must be in the same vertical plane.

At the ends of the battery, using dowels, we attach strictly vertical guides from profile 27 vertically to the wall. Then, from profile 60, we install vertical jumpers at a distance of 50 cm from each other.

Please note: the outermost vertical jumpers must be in the same plane as the vertical guides that are attached to the wall along the edges of the battery.

After this, we install horizontal jumpers. It will be enough to mount 2 horizontal jumpers - one near the window sill, and the second below.

The vertical jumpers must be connected to the guides, which are fixed to the wall, using L-shaped profiles. The frame is ready.
From a sheet of drywall exactly to the dimensions of your frame, we cut out all the details of closing the battery.
Let's do ventilation holes, for good circulation of warm air. The holes can be made with an electric drill with a crown attachment.
Their diameter should not be made larger than 5 cm. Holes with a larger diameter will not look aesthetically pleasing.
After this, we install all the parts in their places and secure them with self-tapping screws. The screw heads must be sunk into the drywall to a depth of 1 mm.
Then, using putty, we process the joints and mask the screw heads. The finishing of the battery box can be done according to your taste - it can be painted white or to match the color of your interior, it can be covered with self-adhesive film, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of using plasterboard in finishing radiators:

This is an environmentally friendly material that does not contain toxins.
Drywall is absolutely fireproof.
It is easy to handle and install.
The cost of this material is relatively low.

The disadvantages include:

Drywall is enough brittle material and may crumble during processing.
He has low strength and is afraid of blows.
After installation is completed, putty and finishing are required.

Why do you still need finishing of heating radiators:

Various decorative finishes for heating radiators give the room a unique look.
Protective panels on radiators protect against burns, especially in children's rooms.
Screens installed on radiators scatter infrared radiation and thereby reduce them bad influence on human health.
A wide variety of finishing materials and design solutions will help you create an exclusive interior in your apartment.

No matter how modern the batteries are, they rarely fit perfectly into the interior, which is not good appearance apartments. Let's figure out how you can decorate or hide the battery to improve the situation.

Hide behind the screen

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 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 top, bottom and sides, allowing warm air 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 any grate or panel with holes of a suitable size at a hardware store.

Photos: grishaenkova.ru, pricedv.ru, jacekpartyka.com, home-designing.com, bertibarbera.com, furnirior.com, pinterest.com, ofdesign.net

How to cover radiators - 11 ways from a plasterboard box to a fabric screen

1. Decorative screen/box made of HDF

2. A plasterboard box

3. Furniture

4. Fabric curtain

5. Natural wood screen

6. Glass screen

7. Metal box

8. A rattan box or screen

9. Hinged metal screen

10. Curtains to the floor

How to close batteries correctly - technical rules and tips

Features and Requirements

Economical ways

Popular solutions

Examples in the interior

Finishing batteries with MDF board

Finishing radiators with natural wood

Cladding batteries with metal sheets

Battery trim with fabric

Painting radiators

Finishing radiator screens using thermography

Do-it-yourself plasterboard finishing of a heating radiator

Hide behind the screen