Decorative finishing of heating radiators. Making decoupage on an old radiator with your own hands. Screen made of natural wood

Battery decor is interesting option for those whose radiators or batteries have an unpresentable appearance or simply do not match the interior, standing out too much and spoiling the overall appearance.

Beautiful radiators in the house attract attention and make the interior more colorful.

Many people have old Soviet batteries at home, and it is simply not possible to replace them with new ones, so we recommend that you decorate them in various ways.

Battery decor

To make radiators and radiators less noticeable, you can purchase paint that will match the color of the walls.

So, if your walls are painted one color or covered plain wallpaper, you can easily select suitable color by visiting a specialty paint store.

Today there is a great variety of shades, among which everyone can choose the right option.

It is worth remembering that radiators need to be painted with specially designed paint; moreover, it will look more even and neat on their surface.

If the walls in your room are not monochromatic, the paint color is selected based on the prevailing colors in the wallpaper patterns.

If the surface of the heating device is not very presentable, uneven or bumpy, additional decor battery pipes will help divert attention from the shortcomings.

If you draw beautifully, you can paint a pre-painted battery with various patterns and colors.

A great idea for decorating a battery is to buy or make a case yourself.

Of course, it will be difficult to find it on sale, but making it yourself is very easy.

Just choose the color suitable material, calculate the dimensions of the battery and make a blank. So that the battery heats in the same mode as before, and the cover does not interfere with the spread of heat, you can make its front part mesh.

To do this, either buy thin fabric in the form of a large mesh, or sew your own frame in the form of squares fastened together.

This option for decorating the battery may be more labor-intensive, but you will have the opportunity to decorate the case with bows, artificial flowers, beads and other elements.

Animal-shaped covers will look perfect in a child's room.

Decoupage batteries

To decorate a battery using the decoupage technique, you need the following materials:

drawing for decorating a battery using decoupage technique;
acrylic paints;
PVA glue;
white enamel;
brushes;
sandpaper;
heat-resistant varnish.

In order to decoupage the battery, you need to prepare it. To prepare, you need to clean the battery, walk sandpaper and remove excess old paint and create a flat, smooth surface.

After sanding, wash the heating radiator and wait until it dries completely. Only then start painting.

To paint the battery, it is better to use white enamel, but not nitro.

After knocking, when the battery is dry, take a drawing or napkin for the battery decoupage technique and measure the width of the outer surface.

It all depends on the design you choose. We glue our drawing in the center of the edge of the battery.

To glue the drawing, take PVA glue and dilute it with water in a 1:1 ratio, in this state it will fit better on the paper.

Having thus glued the entire drawing, you need to finish painting the part of the battery remaining without a napkin with acrylic paints. If you draw well, you can complement the decoupage of the battery with brushes.

When the decoupage on the battery is dry, coat it with heat-resistant varnish.

You can also decorate the battery with other designs. Usually used various flowers and patterns.

Pipe decor

Pipes, like batteries, can be decorated in an original way. There are several options for decorating pipes with your own hands:

wrap the pipes with thick threads or ropes;
knit a pipe cover that will be applied to the pipe;
paint the pipe in original colors, for example, in multi-colored stripes.

The last option, which involves painting, may require availability different colors paint, but it is perfect for a child's room.

How to decorate a pipe using a hook and thread

It is enough to simply knit a long knitted strip, the width of which will correspond to the size of the girth of the pipe. The strip may not be ring-shaped, and it is not at all necessary to make a cover out of it.

To decorate the pipe, you will only need loops placed in a certain sequence, but you can make them during the knitting process in accordance with the chosen pattern.

A rope similar to a lace will be threaded through these loops, which will be tied either at the bottom, or at the top, or in several places into a beautiful bow.

Pipe decor with rope

Another option decorative design unattractive pipes - using beautiful structural rope.

It simply needs to be tightly wrapped around the pipes with vertical stripes. To secure the rope while threading its ends, you must use glue.

Decoupage pipes

You can decorate pipes using the decoupage technique. To do this, you will need either a special film for decoupage, which is sold in a craft store, or ordinary napkins with a suitable pattern.

As a rule, shabby chic decoupage involves the use of light, warm and delicate flowers. To decorate a pipe, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:

pre-clean the surface for decorating the pipe;
apply glue to the pipe;
cover the surface with a napkin;
apply glue again so that the entire napkin is soaked through for better adhesion;
varnish.

You can cut out a design on a napkin if it shows a pattern that specifically suits you. As a background, you can use another napkin with soft colors, which under no circumstances should be cut.

The ideal solution for decorating a pipe using the decoupage technique is to tear it, so the background borders will be smooth.

The decor of pipes can be very different. For example, you can paint a pipe in the shape of a birch tree trunk, and attach sheets of paper cut out to the walls, which will create an original image of a tree, or replace the sheets with artificial ones.

Decorative grille for radiator

The radiator grille is an excellent decoration and a way of camouflage. The simplest option for creating such a lattice is a structure made of bamboo rods. The rods should be thick, and they should be easy to cut, adjusting the size of the grille to the size of the radiator.

The rods can be secured with wire or glue, but the glue will, of course, be less noticeable.

The radiator can be disguised as a fireplace by making a wooden mesh for it, decorated with different patterns. This fireplace fits perfectly into almost any type of interior if it is placed against the wall.

Like door decor, decor of pipes, radiators and radiators may require painstaking work, imagination and a lot of time, but with the help of decor you can hide what spoils the appearance of your home.

Cast iron batteries are the eternal enemy of an aesthetic appearance living rooms. They can be hidden in summer period for furniture and thick curtains, but in winter they have to be opened. It will be interesting for every needlewoman to know how to give batteries an attractive look with their own hands using decoupage with napkins.

Selection of color and pattern

You can apply decor to heating radiators with your own hands different ways, but the simplest and does not require serious expenses and special skills is decoupage with napkins. It takes little time to perform this technique, but the result will definitely please you. The main thing is to choose the right drawing and color scheme, and also do the work carefully, and it will be completely unnoticeable that the battery is decorated with simple napkins.

Conventional multi-layer table napkins are available in a huge variety, so choosing the right color and pattern is not difficult. When choosing napkins you should consider color scheme And general style rooms where you plan to do decoupage. It is also necessary to decide on the purpose of decoupage: to disguise the batteries and make them invisible or, on the contrary, to focus attention on them.

You can choose napkins with a pattern that will match the pattern of the main wallpaper. This option will help make it one with the overall decor. It is recommended to perform it in small rooms with low ceilings.

If the room is spacious enough, then with the help of decoupage you can highlight them, emphasizing them as a separate piece of furniture. To do this, you can use napkins with a landscape or a bright pattern.

It is advisable to first prepare a sketch by sketching out the desired composition on paper, which will greatly facilitate the work procedure in the process of applying decoupage.

An example of battery decoration is shown in the photo:

Materials and tools

To enjoy the continuous creative process and not be distracted by searching necessary materials, it is better to prepare for work in advance. To decorate radiators with napkins you will need the following:

PVA glue;
multi-layer napkins;
degreaser;

Despite the fact that decorating with napkins heating batteries— the process is not complicated; to obtain the desired result, you must adhere to a certain order of work.

Radiator surface preparation

First of all, you need to thoroughly wash the battery using detergents. It should be noted that many hard to reach places, so it is recommended to use a long-handled brush or brush to remove as much dirt as possible. Then let the surface dry or wipe dry with a cloth.

Next, you should give the surface perfect smoothness. To do this, you need to take sandpaper and clean out all the bulges and irregularities, as well as remove pieces of peeling paint. It is better to use coarse sandpaper to remove deep unevenness, and then sand the surface with a sheet of fine-grain sandpaper. After this, rinse the battery again.

The final stage of surface preparation is the application of heat-resistant white or light-colored enamel. The paint must dry completely, for this it must be left for a day.

Important! You cannot use nitro paint as it will swell when heated.

Applying decoupage

After the surface of the battery is ready, it is necessary to prepare fragments of the pattern for decoupage. There are several methods for drawing. For example, you can cut out strips of napkins with designs. To do this, you must first measure the width of the radiator fin and line the napkin into strips of the appropriate size, then cut it out.

You can do it differently: take a napkin with a pattern and tear off the edges so that only a fragment of the pattern remains. This method will allow you to mask the edges of the transition when composing the composition, and will also provide a more reliable adhesion of the fragments to each other.

Currently there is a huge range adhesive compositions for decoupage various surfaces, but in order to save money, it is better to use PVC glue, especially since its properties are in no way inferior to other means. PVC glue should be diluted with water in proportions 1:1.

Place a fragment of the pattern on the battery and, starting from the middle, apply glue, evenly distributing it in the direction from the center to the edges. Movements should be smooth so as not to damage the napkin. If there are gaps between the drawings, they can be painted over with light enamel. To give the decoupage strength after the glue has completely dried, it is necessary to apply heat-resistant varnish in two layers.

If some fragments did not turn out the way you would like, then don’t be upset. An unsuccessfully applied napkin can be painted over with white enamel, wait until it dries, and try again.

Ideas for decoupage can be seen in the video:

Heating radiators are made from various metals and alloys (read also the article - thermostat for a heating radiator). The shapes and sizes of batteries are also not uniform. However, not all elements heating system houses are in harmony with the interior, often negating all the costs of repairs and furnishings.

Cast iron “accordions” look especially annoying, reminiscent of the times Soviet Union. Old batteries heat well, but are not aesthetically pleasing. There are many ways to disguise radiators protruding from the wall, most of which are quite economical and original.

Fabric radiator cover. Having worked a little and spent a certain amount thick fabric, pieces of fur, leather, accessories, you can sew an interesting case that will hide the radiator underneath and serve additional protection for little fidgets.
Fabric radiator cover
Similar products of various shapes and colors are available in a wide range of stores, but if you are inclined towards this option, learn that even through thick frosted glass The old battery will be visible, and the wooden trims on the radiators will even look like “patches.” Metal screens are more aesthetically pleasing, but you should take care to combine the shade of the wall behind the radiator with the color of the metal, so as not to attract attention with contrasting surfaces.
False walls and niches made of gypsum plasterboard. Plasterboard structures are not difficult to make. Accordingly, you can hide the heating pipelines behind a neat false wall yourself. However, you should not completely cover the entire battery with panels, because this will lead to heat loss and a decrease usable area premises.
This method is creative and does not require large financial expenditures. It is very simple to apply a beautiful pattern, turning the radiator into a decorative element. But preparation and a responsible approach to the quality of materials for work will be required.

Decoupage is an imitation of painting. And any painting requires a flat base. New radiators are produced with smooth-walled sections, so the pattern will fit perfectly. But you will have to work on old cast-iron rarities to level the surface as much as possible and remove layers of old paint, drips and rust stains.

Old batteries require preparation for decoupage

Step one. Removing old paint

Old paint is not easy to remove.

You can try using a solvent, applying it to the surface of the radiator and scraping off the softened enamel with a metal spatula. But if there are too many layers of paint, the option is too tedious. Plus, the pungent odors of solvents have a detrimental effect on health.

Another method is mechanical. Sandpaper with different grain sizes and an angle grinder with abrasive attachments will be used.

Many craftsmen advise cleaning the surface of batteries using a drill and a brush attachment (wire or polymer-abrasive). Old paint will fly off in no time, but it’s worth coordinating noisy work with your neighbors.

Repair shops and auto repair shops often offer sandblasting services. This method is highly effective, but will require dismantling and transporting a heavy radiator.

And another option is thermal. Old paint can be removed by heating the surface of the radiator construction hairdryer, and then scraping off the loose enamel with a spatula. If there is an opportunity and desire to dismantle the radiator and take it out of the room, then a burner is used for cleaning. All that remains is to lightly sand the cast iron surface.

Note! If the old paint could not be removed for some reason, the surface is leveled with putty and sanded with fine sandpaper. It is not recommended to apply thick layer putty, as this will reduce the heat transfer of the radiator.

After removing the old paint, the radiator should be degreased with white spirit and then coated with a layer of anti-corrosion alkyd primer to improve the adhesion of the paint layer to the metal. The drying time of the putty is from 20 minutes to several hours.

Step two. Radiator painting

First of all, you should choose a paint that will meet the following requirements:

wear and heat resistance;
non-toxic;
no change in the shade of the coating over time.

In addition, it is recommended to choose paint that matches the wall located behind the radiator. Plus, it is advisable to purchase matte water-dispersion paint (labeled “for painting radiators”), decoupage will look more impressive on it, and during the painting process unpleasant chemical odors will not bother you.

The most convenient way to apply paint is with a fur double-sided mitten. A rubber glove is put on the hand, and a fur mitten is placed on top. This makes it very convenient to paint hard-to-reach areas. Don't forget to place oilcloth or newspapers under the radiator so as not to stain the floor.

Note! Painting and decoupage are carried out strictly after the radiator is disconnected from the heating. Close the valve and wait until the battery cools down. Otherwise, the paint will lie unevenly.

Video - Painting the radiator

Step three. Preparation of materials

To begin, take a napkin with the desired pattern and separate the layer with the pattern. We measure the battery sections (length and width) in order to cut the napkin exactly to size. We cut the napkins based on the measurements obtained.

If you don’t have ready-made napkins, you can make them yourself. To do this, find the desired drawing on the Internet. Take a two-layer white paper napkin, place it on top of the printed design and fix it on one side masking tape. We cut off the excess napkin. Now print out the design you like on a sheet of paper with a napkin attached. Peel off the tape and the napkin is ready.

Video - How to make a napkin for radiator decoupage

For the living room, it is best to select images of nature and abstraction, for the nursery, cartoon characters are appropriate, and in the kitchen, floral motifs and still lifes will look best.

This completes the preparation. Let's get started with creative design.

Step four. DIY decoupage of a heating battery

We take a strip of napkin and glue it with the wrong side to the section of the radiator coated with glue. Smooth the napkin with your hand or a wide brush with soft bristles. If some areas of the strip do not stick, coat these areas with glue directly on top of the napkin. We make sure that no bubbles or unevenness are formed during the process.

The work should be done carefully, since in case of an error it will not be possible to remove the damaged strip without damage.

We rinse the brush from glue and open it acrylic lacquer for decoupage, which can be glossy, matte or with various holographic effects. Using light, precise movements, coat the battery with varnish. The varnish will fix the design and give the work a finished look.

If desired, you can acrylic paint apply any lines or additional drawings on top of the napkins to make the work truly exclusive.

We wait until the varnish dries and turn on the heating. The work is completed.

Video - DIY decoupage of a heating battery

Heating is the most important part of every winter. Thanks to it, we live the cold season in warmth and comfort, which makes having a battery in the room an advantage, but it is cumbersome and not elegant design interfere with planning repairs.

Large and protruding pipes are difficult to imagine in a sophisticated classic style, a modern high-tech direction, as in any other direction.

The usual location for the battery is the wall under the window. Due to its design, the battery stands out strongly in front of the wall. A protruding piece of metal does not add beauty to the room, which led the designers to think about how to beautifully decorate the battery in the interior.

Especially considering that the problem of protruding heating threatens the health of children. Batteries are essential in a child's room. They maintain the desired temperature, which prevents hypothermia and colds in the child’s body.

But what about children's activity and clumsiness? Children are easily hit, burned and cling to protruding parts of the heater.

Modern apartments are released for sale with newer models, they are more reliable and safer, but their appearance is far from ideal. And I don’t want to talk about old houses with huge “monsters” for heating. The hardest part is not hiding the heater, but doing it without losing the basic heating properties.

Popular ways to hide a battery

Every problem has its own solution. And the answer to the question of how to cover radiators has long been found. Interior designers have found many solutions to this problem. The most used include:

Screen

The most popular solution for masking old radiators is a screen. It is most often made of metal. Knowing such parameters as width, height and length of the heater, you can easily select suitable model. Screens are stamped in large quantities and for different parameters.

The advantages of this solution include maintaining the main function - heating the room. The material also has high strength and wear resistance, does not change shape at high temperatures, and is cheaper than other options.

Of the shortcomings, not the best appearance. It looks, of course, much better than a battery without it, but it still won’t suit every interior. You can look at the photo of hidden batteries in more detail. If you have limited finances, you can decorate the screen yourself.

Wood screen

More expensive and nice option- This is a screen made of wood. Find ready-made option It is difficult to fit the parameters, so such things are made to order by professionals and done by hand. The type of wood chosen to match the color of the furniture and the appropriate texture will serve as a stunning example of how to hide a battery.

The pattern is chosen in the form of a sieve or weaving. They perfectly mask the shortcomings of the heating system and have high heat transfer. The cost is much higher than the price for metal screens. But in return you get a detail that perfectly matches the design.

Depending on the desired result, the screen can be created in the form of a high bench, a cabinet, a chest, or simply with additional shelves. The advantage is that it can be manufactured at home.

Plastic screen

A screen made of plastic is a cheaper option than a wooden one. But when purchasing, be sure to ask for quality certificates. And do not buy such an important part of the interior in non-specialized places and unknown brands.

Plastic is not the most reliable material and a product purchased simply based on price can release toxic fumes at high temperatures or even melt on the battery.

More elite option is special built-in furniture that is made to order according to individual measurements and sketches. The easiest way to hide pipes is in a table, closet, chest of drawers, seat, etc. But an important condition is the free circulation of air from the heating site, which will allow both to close the radiator and heat the room without interference.

If you are an ardent opponent of noticeable pipes or unnecessary elements in the room, then you can wall up the heating system under the walls. There are several options for execution and both are not the simplest.

The first option is to make adjustments at the stage of building the house, which will allow you to install the system behind the wall. If you live in a house or apartment that has already been completely built, you can create a false wall. Just covering everything at a short distance from the radiator.

The disadvantages include a reduction in free space and a clear reduction in the room. And also the room will be heated a little worse. Natural difficulties will arise, as well as costs in the event of a breakdown.

For a long time, including now, batteries have been masked using heavy curtains made of thick fabric. The good idea is that it doesn't require extra costs and investments. And curtains are a natural part of the interior and do not attract much attention.

You can paint or wallpaper the heating pipes. This will help reduce their visibility indoors. But everything must be done efficiently. Paint with smudges or wallpaper hung askew will only attract unnecessary attention and will involuntarily catch the eye.

Unusual ideas for hiding a radiator

You can get rid of all the pipes and replace them with safer underfloor heating. The method has its advantages, first of all you will not depend on heating season, increase free space, the chance that you will be doused with boiling water from your own battery will be zero.

The downsides are electricity prices, the possibility of short circuits, fires, etc. increases. And also in the absence of light, in winter you will have to look for another place to spend the night.

Fabric covers for radiators are gaining popularity for children's rooms. Most often they are made by hand. They are created in the form of a favorite character or canvas with a magical story, letters, numbers, etc.

It all depends on the age and hobbies of the baby. This detail will go perfectly with the atmosphere children's room and will protect the child from burns and bruises.

Especially original people hire artists. They use a battery instead of a canvas and paint on it with heat-resistant paints, creating unique masterpieces that match the interior of the room. The advantage is the ability to draw a new picture if you suddenly want to change the design of the room.

The solution to the problem of how to close batteries, which do not always have an elegant, decorative and attractive appearance, must take into account not only the aesthetic component. What looks good in a photo can actually lead to a significant decrease in the temperature in the house. It is important to take into account that in addition to a purely decorative function, a panel (screen, box), which helps to decorate heating appliances, also performs quite an important function in families with small children. functional purpose, protecting the child from both burns and sharp corners batteries. Therefore, we will consider the decor of the radiator in the room from the perspective of three specialists at once - a designer, a heating engineer and a plumber

The problem is how to hide it in the apartment Radiator and the pipe supplying the coolant can be considered from two aspects. The first one is the day before overhaul, when it is possible (and necessary) to replace the battery. In this case, you can select and install designer batteries and then the issue will disappear by itself, and the heating efficiency will not decrease (more on this below). For example, if we are talking about a room in a classic victorian style, then here without cast iron batteries, powerful, massive, on a stand, casting in sections is indispensable - such radiators will become a stylish detail of the overall interior.

Another thing is when the repair does not involve replacing the plumbing, in this case there are several options for how and with what to close the battery.

Painting

The easiest way to hide the battery is to simply paint it to match the wall near which the radiator is mounted. Just need to buy special paint for painting batteries. This is an option when radiators match the overall style of the room

Hanging screens

Screen box

Allows you to completely decorate the entire heating radiator, while you can simply make such a screen for the battery yourself from wood, the diagram is shown in Fig. 1.

At the same time, the box can not only hide an aesthetically unsightly radiator, but also act as additional element furniture, for example, stands for vases, shelves, or can become part of rack or console. A decorative wooden box can be made so that it fully matches the style and decor of the room. Its main disadvantage is the closed top, which significantly reduces the efficiency of convection. In addition, the tree dries out when the temperature changes. In this regard, screens (boxes) made of MDF, which are both cheaper and more durable, look preferable.

Advice! If the radiator is located far enough from the wall, then by combining a window sill and a frame, you can make a bench for romantic gatherings by the window.

Plastic gratings

Cheap, but at the same time definitely not for residential premises, they will hide the battery/pipe, but when heated they can release compounds dangerous to humans, especially if the panel (grid) is made of cheap plastic by a “gray” manufacturer.

Advice! Plastic screens are suitable for non-residential premises, taking into account resistance to high humidity- For bathrooms.

Glass screen

A glass panel, as a rule, is a rectangular sheet made of translucent thick glass, which is attached to the wall with steel holders. Making it possible to decorate the heating device from the front, it, leaving open space below and above, does not interfere with free air convection. A popular solution is a glass panel with photo printing.

The main task of a heating radiator is to heat the room, which it does by a combination of two methods. The first is infrared radiation, in which heat is transferred directly to objects located in the room. Exactly this thermal energy we feel it when we bring our hands close to the battery. The second method is convection, by heating the air, which, rising upward, displaces the cold air, thus organizing air circulation in the room, which leads to a more or less uniform distribution of temperature.

Therefore, you should immediately decide on the main thing - no matter what method is chosen to hide pipes and radiators in the apartment, any decoration of the radiator will definitely lead to a loss of heater power. A simple example is installing a glass screen that almost completely blocks infrared radiation. And the larger the solid (without holes) area of the cover (screen) on the battery, the “deeper” the battery is hidden, the more significant the losses will be. Solid (solid, without holes) boxes on top of the radiator are especially unacceptable - because they block the warm air rising upward. The photo below shows a particularly unfortunate design designed to decorate the battery.

On the one hand, it never fully fulfills its role - the supply pipe is very clearly visible. On the other hand, there are very small holes that significantly reduce the movement (convection) of warm air, and a solid screen (even metal) blocked thermal radiation. That is why, from the point of view of thermal engineering, perfect choice- This is a panel made like a coarse mesh.

In Fig. 2 is presented in cross-section practically optimal model radiator grilles.

Infrared (also known as direct thermal) radiation, indicated by red arrows (3), passes through the grating (D) with minimal losses. It is worth paying attention to the thermal insulation screen (A), which reflects heat (part infrared radiation) and, instead of aimlessly heating the walls, returns it back to the room.

Cold air (indicated by blue arrow 1), entering from below, heats up and rises. To prevent heated air from stagnating under the window sill, forming a thermal cushion that blocks convection, install a visor (B) that directs the air flow outward. It is also worth installing an injector in the upper part (two metal plates), which allows heated air to be removed from the front side of the radiator. It is especially effective when high temperatures, due to the narrowing at the top, the draft increases significantly and the volume of exhaust air increases significantly. Despite installed grille, the overall energy efficiency of such a design will be significantly higher than with simply installing the battery near the wall.

Second, no less important point– accessibility of the radiator and supply pipes. It's no secret that the battery is one of the potential sources of problems in the apartment. Any radiator can leak - there are many reasons for this, from water hammer to poor quality material. In addition, given the low quality of the coolant (water), it may be necessary to remove the battery in order to wash it - otherwise, the number of actively heating sections will be constantly reduced. So from a plumbing point of view, the best cover (panel) for the battery should provide Free access to the radiator - either not have a permanent attachment, or be attached.

Advice! At the very least, it is necessary to install a “revision” (plastic door), which will give access to the place where the pipe is supplied to the radiator - as experience shows, this is the most weakness throughout the entire system.

How to close the battery - we look at the options in the video: