7 Radiator Paint Colors That Bestow a New Personality to Any Room

Apr 28, 2023

By Shivani Vora

Radiator paint in vibrant colors takes this appliance from functional to fun. Yes, that radiator in your bedroom, bathroom or den may keep you warm come winter, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. A simple DIY paint job can transform it into a design element that zhuzhes up the space. Karen Tolchin, an interior designer in Scarsdale, New York, and the co-owner of the Manhattan home goods store Current Home Store New York, says that a radiator has the potential to elevate any room with style. "Most people try to make their radiator blend into the room, but I encourage my clients to use it to make a statement instead." Here, seven unexpected radiator paint ideas and a quick guide on how to refinish it properly.

Charles Holland Architects gives a Victorian house a decidedly modern twist with a red-powder-coated radiator.

Instead of hiding a standard radiator, Charles Holland, principal of Charles Holland Architects in Dover, England, refurbished it into a lovely object. "It works well with the overall atmosphere of the room, which combines historic detail with a bolder, more contemporary sensibility," he says. When choosing the bold red, he pulled inspiration from the beautiful, patterned Improvisation Number 1 by Ottoline de Vries wallpaper.

The interplay with the bold fire engine red radiator and the bright, cheerful wallpaper is a perfect backdrop for any children's playroom or bedroom, says Rachel Laxer, founder of an eponymous interior design firm in New York and London. "The pattern puts a smile on your face," she says. "I would complete the room with the complimentary fabric on window treatments to envelope the room with this burst of energy."

Pastel pink radiator paint is just what this relaxing nook needs, according to designer Shona East.

Shona East, designer and creator of @honeyjoyhome in Frome, England, took a high-gloss black finish radiator and transformed it into a pastel beauty with a water-based eggshell paint. "The most rewarding elements in a home are those that transcend practicality to become objects of design in their own right," she says. The elongated lines of the dusty rose radiator, painted in Benjamin Moore Ciao Bella ( 1187), create a sculptural element juxtaposed to the painting and flowerpots on the left. "This installation is incredibly well planned, with a bentwood bookcase balancing the linear elements in the room," she adds. "This would be the perfect backdrop for a sophisticated urban apartment."

Stylist Ria Suarez color-blocks with crimson radiators.

"Exposed radiators and pipes are typical in a Berlin apartment," says stylist, creative director, and set designer Ria Suarez. "I chose to highlight these elements by painting them a saturated red— this made them a feature of the room." To further set the tone, the Berlin-based Suarez embraced color blocking by the radiators "chunks of color" to culminate to a (slightly) offbeat, playful, and vivid space.

The quiet elegance of this composition is a perfect study of modernist minimalism, Laxer adds. "The simplicity of the pop of the pomegranate red on the radiators and downpipe is a wonderful nod to a Mondrian composition, with the simplicity of the white walls and black metal frame chairs," she says.

Kingston Lafferty Design shows that blending in is not always a bad thing, at least when it comes to a moody paint color.

By Dan Avery

By Sam Cochran

By Dan Avery

To highlight showstopping wood floors and antique furniture, put the radiator in the background by allowing it to blend into the wall. "It is very important to frame and guide people's views; everything your eye is drawn to is deliberate," says Becky Russell, designer at Kingston Lafferty Design in Dublin. "Radiators can sometimes be too dominant in the space, and painting them in the same color as the wall softens the aesthetic." Allowing the radiator paint to blend in with the wall provides softer shadows and adds to the moody atmosphere.

You’d never guess that this ornate sapphire radiator was silver-gray before designer Caroline Briggs picked up the paint brush.

When it came to renovating a bathroom, designer Caroline Briggs, who lives directly facing the North Sea in Whitley Bay, England, and relies on radiators often, not only opted to paint the radiator blue so that it was similar to the floor tiles, she took the design further by painting the side of the cast iron bath to match. "It pulls the whole color scheme together," she says.

The large-scale tiles in this space make a bold statement, Tolchin says. "With an array of adventurous colors on the floor, it was a natural choice to use the blue accent color on the radiator," she says. "The matte paint allows the stunning detailing on the metal to come through."

A bubble gum pink radiator exudes vintage vibes in this Shona East–designed bathroom.

By Dan Avery

By Sam Cochran

By Dan Avery

For a bathroom that gives nod to the Art Deco era, East painted the radiator and the vintage tub to match a reclaimed blush sink. She used a gloss finish on the cast-iron radiator. The extra luster highlighted the detail in the design. "Even though there are many different patterns, textures, and eras in what is a very small space, the colors—and specifically, painting the bath and radiator—work together to create a room that has a really restful vibe, as any well-designed bathroom should."

When in doubt, choose yellow radiator paint, much like designer Heather Craig .

"Depending on the room, I either like to paint the radiator the same color as the wall to create a calm feel, or I like to paint it a contrasting color," says Heather Craig, designer and @heatherscolourfulhome creator, who used metal paint from Little Greene. "Yellow is my favorite to use. I find it uplifting and fun. Yet goes with so many other colors." Craig, who is based in Dunfermline, Scotland, painted this radiator by hand but has since bought a paint spray gun for other radiators in the house. "It is definitely worth investing in one," she adds.

According to Tolchin, the best rule of thumb to keep in mind when decorating a child's room is to create an environment that they will enjoy spending time in. "This space features a lively, colorful rug and whimsically painted walls," she says. "Pulling the buttery yellow color from the rug and using it on the radiator adds character to the unit and makes the room that much brighter and livelier."

First and foremost, turn off the radiator and let it cool down. You can disconnect it from the pipe with a wrench, but this could be difficult if the radiator hasn't been touched in decades. If you decide to keep it in place, it's not enough to put down a drop cloth before your reach for radiator paint. "Protect the area around the radiator," says David Steckel, director of strategic partnerships at the home services site Thumbtack. Use craft paper and slide it underneath, then use painter's tape to secure it in place. Put something behind the radiator and the wall, like a piece of cardboard.

For smooth application, chip away all peeling paint with a paint scraper, a wire brush, and a multi-tool. You can also sand stubborn spots with fine-grit sandpaper, Steckel advices. Don't rush through this step, as it will affect the outcome of the radiator makeover. Will Glaser, who renovated his 140-year-old Brooklyn brownstone, learned this the hard way. "We didn't scrape nearly enough of the old paint off before painting, which led to them looking and feeling uneven and chippy," says the co-founder of @glamstudio_bk, who repainted 11 radiators. "It would have taken us at least half a week of mind-numbing work, and we figured we could live with them having a little ‘character.’ But yeah, they would look and feel way better if we could have put the time and effort into scraping and prepping them properly." Once the metal is smooth, clean the radiator with dish soap and water to remove any remaining debris and dust. Wipe down thoroughly with a microfiber cloth. "If you find any cracks, call a pro immediately," Steckel adds.

Treat the radiator with an all-surface primer, like BIN Zinsser spray—or an enamel-based primer, such as Rust-Oleum Rusty Metal primer, if you’re worried about rust.

"It's best to avoid oil-based paint, which can become tacky when the radiator heats up," East says. An aerosol spray like Rust-Oleum High Heat enamel will make the radiator paint application easy. "Trying to brush or roll paint into the nooks and crannies of these things is basically impossible," says Glaser, who used Rust-Oleum Satin Protective enamel spray. "Maybe for touch-up it's okay, but some of the spaces are too tight." If you want to use a roller, Steckel recommends a foam roller as opposed to a regular paint roller, which can leave streaks. Once the first coat dries, apply a second coat of paint. Wait 24 hours for the radiator paint to dry completely before turning it back on.