Weather in the Northeast being what it is, our in-wall thermostats, radiators and air conditioners are usually only used for a fraction of the year and the rest of the time they serve as unsightly additions to our décor. Here are a few ideas ideas for hiding or disguising the offending boxes and we want to hear your tips as well.
Hide it in plain sight: We love how the thermostat blends perfectly into Chancie's family photo wall (image 1). As part of the composition of frames it doesn't stand out — past house sitters have even had trouble finding it.
Decorate it: The previous owner of Chris and Hannah's loft decorated an electrical panel in the front hallway by placing a shelf below and painting stencils on it (image 2) and the in-wall air conditioner in this child's bedroom is turned into a truck thanks to some chalkboard paint (image 3). As long as it's smack dab in the middle of the wall, why not have fun with it? A contrasting paint or wallpaper could also add a playful touch an ordinary air conditioner.
Paint it the same color as the wall: Though it won't disappear completely, painting a thermostat, radiator or air conditioner the same color as the wall as Maxime did in this rental apartment will keep it from sticking out like a sore thumb (image 4).
Box it up: There are a million possibilities for custom-made shelves or boxes that can hide in-wall monstrosities. Check out this DIY hinged mirror on unpluggd (image 5) or simply find a shelf that will do the trick—like this table over a radiator in Maxime's apartment (image 6). Wall mounted cabinets are another possibility or find a local carpenter to help you design a one-of-a-kind solution. An Apartment Therapy reader created this unique landing strip (image 7) using IKEA flooring.
Cover it: Curtains or a screen are a perfect way to hide anything unsightly and are especially easy to move around as necessary. The fabric screens from Cassandra's house tour cover air conditioners on the floor (image 8), but could be made taller to hide wall units as well. Or buy an extra deep canvas from an art supply store and either create your own artwork from scratch or stretch a decorative fabric over the canvas. Be careful to only hang fabric over a radiator that isn't being used, otherwise it's a possible fire hazard.
MORE POSTS ABOUT HIDING THERMOSTATS, RADIATORS & AIR CONDITIONERS
• Air Conditioner Cover by Leslie Fry
• 5 Ways to Hide Your Air Conditioner via New York Magazine
• Round Up: 7 Ideas For Masking The Radiator
• Good Questions: Good Radiator Cover Source?
• Good Questions: Hiding the Monstrously Ugly AC Unit?
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I don't fret over this as much as others seem to, but I did once hang a small painting on a hinge over the thermostat. You just lifted it up to change the temp and then let it fall back into place.
If nothing else, keep it clean. Nothing draws attention to an object as much as dirt and dust, especially air condtioners.
The first one is very clever. With the second pic, I would've mounted a hinged panel/artwork over the fusebox instead.
Is there any problem with putting something magnetic on the outer casing of a fuse box?
this post made me laugh. the women of my family have a tradition of hiding fuse boxes with pieces of art. the men always say "what, no ones allowed to know we have a fuse box?"
i hide my fuse box behind framed art. my thermostat is hidden in this wall cube shelf: http://www.target.com/Wall-Cube-Set-2-Silver/dp/B002ONIVN4/ref=sc_ri_5
with a bright vase on top, you don't even notice the thermostat.
Not sure the heat from the radiator would make a safe place for the television in the 6th photo.
I hung a decorative rug I got in Morocco over our fuse box. Except I only hung it from only three of the corners. On the bottom right side I used velcro to keep it flush to the wall...that way if we have to throw the switch (forgot about not using the hair dryer, microwave and toaster at the same time), we just pull it away from the wall, flip the switch and then pat the rug back into place.
I like all these ideas, but none of them really work for MY radiator(s), which are two feet wide, four feet tall, eight inches out on the wall and bright freaking red. I've thought about painting them but the fact that they protrude so far out means they're pretty much gonna be all you look at no matter what, and I can't think of a way to make them look cute. any ideas?
I'm thankful for a fusebox located in a closet...
...but for the old intercom box and the thermostat - That's where framed art and a fabric panel on a stretcher live.
What a great and good idea to use framed photography to do that !
If you search for some nice art photography and do something like that, I suggest you this site Phildeco.org or Phildeco.com
dearcoquette
Turn it into a zebra. Paint it black and white stick a head and tail on it. Don't forget to name it, you'll become more fond of it.
Great idea! That wall looks great.
My thermostat is right in the center of the longest wall in my living room. Rather than try to hide it, I treat it like it's art. It's framed with a empty wooden picture frame painted to look like copper. The frame helps it to blend in with all of the other art on the wall (and there's a lot of items hanging on that wall). I get complimented on it all the time.
oh the zebra idea is a good one nothinkieadame!
the radiator by the tv and components is a sure fire way to shorten the life of your electronics, worst idea i've seen on here hands down.
Does anyone remember a post a while back that showed a ceramic plate that went over the top of the radiator so you could put things there, with grooves to keep it in place? I think it was English...? I've searched the archives and can't find it, but swore I saw it on here.
Alternately, if anyone does know what I'm talking about, links to places to purchase would be amazing. Thanks!
What is up with hiding thermostats? I don't get it.
Yeah you want to keep plants away from those radiators, too...
I was going to put a frame on a hinge over my thermostat, but in the midst of putting up a photo wall around it, I tried surrounding it with just an empty frame and I felt like it worked.
You can see a picture here, in the second picture from the top.
http://princessnebraska.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/and-now-were-back-to-talking-about-paint/
The frame around the thermostat is what I was going to suggest too!
Wouldn't completely covering up the a thermostat prevent it from doing what it's supposed to do...read the temperature in the room and tell the heat/ac to go on or off accordingly? The air temperature in a tiny space surrounding the thermostat isn't going to be the same as room temperature.
The first one is very clever.
Our thermostat is behind our Expedit which is full of books and records with a space in between big enough for a hand to adjust. Works perfectly! Also love that custom wood cover!
Real estate developers seem to thuink that home buyers think that having a fireplace smack in the middle of one's living room, is somehow charmingly rustic or old world aristocratric. Just think of the lovely cinders and soot floating around in your suburban bourgeois nostrils!
Why not relate to window air conditioners and mid-century fuse boxes with that same sense of proud nostalgia? Retro!
What do old tech heating units have, that the new ones lack? Just place your theromostat as the central focal point of your living room, and WHAMO! and everyone will know that you don't live in Bangladesh.
my thoughts exactly Pav09
dearcoquette- what about the radiator turned landing strip?
It wouldn't have to be a landing strip, but a place to put things. It would be a bit tall. You could put a fireplace mantle over it and have a "fireplace"
My tropical plants and cats would LOVE a shelf over a radiator to warm up on.
Hopefully you would only cover a thermostat, radiator or air conditioner during the months that it isn't in use.
Sarah
I have never given two thoughts to hiding or disguising a thermostat, air conditioner, or furnace, radiator, etc. Are the people who do this the same ones who celebrate and glory in having a great big air sucking, drafty, sooty fireplace?
Give me a thermostat any day.
Hmm, the images above show a good way to render these systems ineffective. Hiding a thermostat behind a swing out mirror? Putting a TV stand over a radiator? Let's not loos common sense in the name of decor.
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