It’s getting cold outside and you’re hoping to warm up with family and friends in the living room. Where do you start?
With winter rearing its chilly head over the last few months, we’ve seen some serious storms and cold gracing the shores of England. Instinctively, we’ve all wanted to sit with family and friends to huddle around a fireplace (if we’re lucky enough to have one).
The second best option though is the front room radiator. Feeling at ease in the company of friends and family is what we all remember fondly from many living room memories. But a cold and dim front room can drastically change the atmosphere. To keep the happy memories alive, and to have a comfortable atmosphere, make sure your living room radiator is up to the task.
If it's not, it might be time for a new living room radiator, if that's the case, we have a fantastic selection to choose from, and some of our most popular are at the bottom of this blog.
Living room radiators, like with installations in all other rooms, come with their own set of challenges and concerns. Below we go through what you need to keep in mind when purchasing a new living room radiator.
Working with your interiors
Especially with designer radiators, one of the first things you must consider is the décor of your room. It would be silly and shallow to base your purchase solely on looks, your home needs more than just a pretty façade to keep it warm and energy efficient. That being said it never hurts to have a radiator which fits in with the rest of your décor. Consider the colour of your radiator and what shape it is, and how this compares to the room in which you’re installing it. Are you looking for a radiator which stands out and makes a statement or are you looking for a heating unit which blends into the background? Whatever your choice, it all comes down to your taste.
Finding the best material
Not all wall radiators for living rooms should be made from the same material. It all depends on the type of room you’re heating. Whether it is well insulated, large and airy or small and cosy, this all has a weighing on the sort of material you should be investing in. For instance, aluminium radiators are quick to heat up but quick to cool down. This makes the material less effective for larger spaces as they are better equipped for quick bursts of heat in smaller rooms like kitchens or dining rooms. Cast iron radiators on the other hand, have steady heat ups and slow cooldowns, making them a better choice for larger spaces.
But don’t forget about the other materials out there too. If you're not sure on which material to choose, just do a little research first.
It is always a good idea to check the BTU of your room using an online BTU calculator so that you can assess what material is right to heat your space.
Placing your radiator
It’s not all about the material though! The placing of your radiator is key to an energy efficient space. For example, placing a radiator under a window will optimise the convection heating which occurs. With hot air rising from under the window, the cold air draft coming in from the space will lift the hot air and push it further into the room. This means that your room will be efficient in its heating whilst also minimising cold air which enters, if you have a low window then you'll benefit from our range of low level radiators.
There's one place that is not advised when placing a radiator, but is a common mistake many make when focused on space saving. This is to place your radiator behind your sofa or to block it off by putting it behind furnishings. This makes it very difficult for heat to radiate, as the sofa, chest of drawers or a book shelf is absorbing a lot of the heat.
But in the modern age, this issue has been noticed by radiator manufacturers. So now if you're looking at saving space, we highly recommend the vertical radiator. These, instead of taking up horizontal space which may be limited. Stand tall, taking advantage of unused vertical wall space.
Subtle Choices
Lux Heat Siena Vertical Radiator
Finding a radiator which blends into the background can be simple, especially with models such as the Lux Heat Venice Horizontal Radiator. It looks sleek and is incredibly efficient.
Anthracite grey radiators are becoming incredibly popular with interior designers because of their beautiful colour and ability to suit almost all aesthetics.
Lux Heat Siena Vertical Radiator
If you're looking for power, style and space saving then we highly recommend the Lux Heat Siena Vertical Radiator.
It's a total powerhouse when it comes to heating, but also has a sleek style to suit many interiors. It's also highly durable, having a 15 year guarantee to keep you warm for years.
The Lux Heat Oxford 3 Column
Going traditional with cast iron, like the Lux Heat Oxford 3 Column Horizontal Radiator, is another classic choice for keeping your radiators subtle.
We don’t always want to draw the eye with our radiator, especially if you have a lot of colour and dramatic furnishings already, a bold radiator could make the room too noisy.
Making A Statement With Your Radiator
The Lux Heat Whitby Vertical Radiator
This gorgeous Carisa Monza aluminium radiator is a mixture of designer and simplicity.
Its textured design enhances your space and adds character. It can give the appeal of a larger living space, and with its range of coloured finishes, it's a stylish fit for most aesthetics.
Aeon Arat Floor Mounted Stainless Steel Radiator
The Aeon Arat floor mounted radiator really makes your room shine with its high-quality stainless steel material.
It comes in a variety of metal coloured finishes so no matter your interior, you can get a glow to suit, whether that be a silver glow for colder aesthetics or a golden glow for warmer interiors. Its high shine and sleek appearance gives the illusion of a larger room.
It has a wide range of sizes and comes with a brilliant 20 year warranty.
The Reina Dimaro
The Reina Dimaro is certain to make a statement in your living room with its explosive design. Its curving, cross shaped steel bars will become a breath-taking feature in any home. If you want to add that extra wow and style to your home then the Reina Dimaro is for you.
Choose DRD For Your Living Room Radiator Supplier
At DRD, we are very proud of our large selection of radiators, and offer 1000s of designs and sizes to choose from. So if you can’t see your dream radiator here, check our designer radiators and stainless steel radiators for a more bold selection.
Looking for something a little more subtle? Then see our horizontal radiators.
Its not just living room radiators we sell, we also have a wide range of towel radiators that are perfect for bathrooms and kitchens.
If you have any questions about any of our products or services, please contact us right away! Our award winning customer service team is always on hand to assist you.