When we moved into The Barn I was immediately impressed with the two statement radiators in the master bedroom. Rather than being the ugly sisters in the corners they were a feature of the room and from a practical point of view the vertical style meant that wall space was immediately free for other furniture.

I’d love to have more statement radiators, perhaps modern for the gym or traditional cast iron in the parlour but how do you go about choosing a statement radiator and can they work in any setting? I asked Nick Duggan, Director of The Radiator Centre, one of the largest online providers of the very best designer radiators, for his thoughts and advice…

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How does a statement radiator differ from a standard one?

Statement radiators are generally those that people are happy to put on show and not hide behind their sofas. Such is the variety of shapes and colours available on the market, a radiator can make a valuable contribution to a room’s design and layout, rather than be that white panel that you would want to hide away and ignore.

What advice would you give for making a statement radiator a feature in a room?

Nowadays, you can almost consider radiators in the same way that you would potential curtains, as they provide an opportunity to work with colour (whether subtle or bold), textures and shapes. There are no hard or fast rules as to what will or will not work, but don’t lose sight of the fact that the radiator is there to heat the room. You don’t want to be left with a beautiful room which you cannot enjoy because it is too cold.

But isn’t statement heating just for large rooms?

Definitely not. The smallest cloakroom can benefit from the addition of something that differs from a standard chrome towel rail. Even in the smallest of rooms, wall space is important. Being able to put a vertical radiator on a piece of wall too small for anything else has real advantages.

How efficient are statement radiators?

Some statement radiators can be very efficient. Manufacturers are increasingly aware that ‘energy efficiency’ is an important part of the design process. As a result, aluminium radiators, which use less water, take less time to heat up and are recyclable, are now available in an increasing number of interesting styles. There are also ranges that are to get the most out of the energy efficient heating systems, such as ground-source or air-source heat pumps.

Can you install a statement radiator on a budget?

Most definitely. Some ranges cost little more than a basic white panel radiator, so there are no excuses!

Would you consider using a statement radiator in your home? For more guidance The Radiator Centre website has a great help section with information and advice on choosing a radiator, installing a radiator and troubleshooting & maintenance.

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