Radiators can take up quite a bit of space in a small apartment. But do you know what helps? Resting a shelf on top. Make sure you aren't storing books or flammable objects there, but think of it as a warming side table where you can perch a cup of joe when you're curled up on the sofa! Here are a few examples:
In the warmer months, of course, the shelf can be used in any way you please. Then, when winter comes around and those babies start heating up, clear them off and use them only as appropriate for a hot surface.
We recommend a stone slab, as shown in all of the examples above. It's more durable than wood, which could warp and crack over seasons of extreme temperature swings. Marble saddles from the hardware store can work remarkably well for this application: they come in a suitable size (around 36" x 5") and they're pretty inexpensive. Of course, other solid materials like Corian could work, too.
OTHER RADIATOR SHELVES FROM APARTMENT THERAPY:
(Images: Eric Roth/Kelly McGuill Home, Willow Decor, The English Home, Brownstoner, El Mueble)
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Is that a bucket of limes in the first picture?!?
Any suggestions for the single heat pipe? we already have the shelf thing for the radiator - but we have a heat pipe that runs up the corner of our living room, and one in the bathroom...
You do indeed need to be careful about keeping flammables away from steam radiators. But our radiators use hot water. They never get painfully hot to the touch and there's no risk in leaving delicate items on the radiator shelf, even in the winter.
Has anyone done this with cats in their home? I am afraid two rambunctious felines would knock the marble slab right off the radiator.
Great idea, always looking for ways to save some room (and make it look pretty).
As a professional organizer that's my motto!
http://thereisalwaysroom.wordpress.com/
sitesmitten, it looks like it might be a bucket/basket of tennis balls.
I really like the idea of using a marble shelf. Any ideas on how to keep it in place?
i've always wanted to do this but my radiators are rounded on top. how do you get the slab to stay steady (aside from building a table/shelf)? thanks in advance!
I had a cat when I covered my two radiators with stone slabs, but they were so heavy and thick (unlike the ones in the picture) I almost died getting them back from Home Depot.
these are great!
I've done this in college - I had a flat top radiator and it worked great.
In my very first apartment, I had a round-top radiator and the apartment was quite drafty, so I kept clothes on it. Putting them on in the morning was like having that fresh-out-of-the-dryer feeling, and made me want to cross the cold, cold room to get them.
All these photos are lovely. We've got a wide wood bench topper on our low living room radiator and our dining room radiator has a big tin cover. But this makes me want to put shelves over the rest!
I did this in college too. I had a 2" thick slab of granite and no way in heck was the cat going to knock it off. Since it was so thick, it didn't get super hot either. I used to put my slippers on it over night.
This makes me regret having our old-fashioned radiators ripped out and replaced with flat, modern ones.
For people (like me) with rounded radiators, the hooks (or whatever they are) on the radiator in photo #4 look perfect for turning the radiator into a flat surface. Anybody know where to find some?
hmr, i have marble slabs (about an inch thick) on my radiators, and my rambunctious kitty can't knock it over-- just make sure it doesn't hang over the ends too much?
Cats make excellent radiator toppers. You can't put vases on them, but they do add pleasant ambient noises (purring).
Yes! Anyone know where to get or what parts to use to mount a marble shelf on a round top radiator like in #4? I reaaaaaally want to do this in my dining room
I got so excited that I went over to Lowe's this evening and had them cut some marble tiles for me (at 25 cents/tile).
But, my radiators aren't all that flat on top. Any ideas about how to make my pretty marble slabs a little more stable?
Google searching I found this:
http://books.google.com/books?id=yd4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA937&lpg=PA937&dq=popular+mechanics+radiator+shelf&source=bl&ots=kcleOyBZTQ&sig=9yFKqjgdiwBTqcrQTeqy_wfnbTo&hl=en&ei=4PXnTLW5OIaglAfSrYDPCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
They're doing something with ubolts, wingnuts, and a shelf bracket.
If anyone figures out how to fashion one or finds a kit, I'd love to know
trishdom - shop details? thanks :)
What is used to keep the radiator stable in picture four? HELP.
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