If you have an old radiator that needs replacing or are doing a complete refurbishment in a small room, you’ll need to know the best radiators to match small spaces.

It could feel counterintuitive, but you don’t just want to get the biggest radiator, or the same radiator for every room in your home. As with everything in life, there is too much choice, even when it comes to radiators!

As you would expect, the best radiators for small rooms depends entirely on the size of the room. Before making your decision on the ideal radiator for your space, consider the questions below, and think about how you could get the maximum efficiency out of your radiator.

• Exactly how small is your room?
• What will the room be used for?
• Does the room have a high ceiling?
• Will the shape of the room affect the heat flow?

We’ll discuss these to discover the ways that heat coverage, even in a small space, is affected, and the best ways to tackle them so you will find exactly the radiator you’re looking for.

Let’s dive in and take a look at the best radiators for small rooms.

Make the most of your wall space with a space-saving vertical radiator.

Vertical radiators are a perfect fit for small rooms. The vertical format provides an elegant solution to heating a space that is a little short on space. If the room has a tall ceiling, a vertical radiator will be ideal. The tall and thin appearance looks great as well; a modern twist on the classic radiator design we’re all familiar with.

With all the power of their larger counterparts, they deliver a powerful burst of heat in a small package.

These radiators come in a huge range of designs. Your radiator doesn’t have to be purely utilitarian; if you choose, it can also be a statement of style. These smaller units have fewer columns or panels than the larger versions but if you only need to heat a small space, this won’t be too much of an issue.

A compact radiator is ideal for a nursery, guest bedroom or small home office.

If you’re struggling to fit everything you need into the tight space of your small room, consider the sleek, slim, ultra-modern design of a panel radiator.

Radiators like these embody a modern design philosophy. The flat-panelled design allows the radiator to take up much less space than its columned cousins.

These radiators are a great choice for a minimalist, contemporary, space such as a small office or cloakroom. Though they would look equally at home in a sparsely styled guest bedroom also; a perfect accompaniment to a room that isn’t used too often or needs to be all business.

Hear us out on this one. Towel radiators don’t just have to be for bathrooms. Sounds crazy? Well, think of a towel radiator as a compact heating unit with an even more space saving design than the others.

Radiators like the Towelrads Soho Modern Towel Radiator offer an ideal solution for heating a small room, they are wall-mounted and unobtrusive. If you have a small office or cloak room that needs heating, a towel radiator could be just what you’re looking for. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, even when it comes to radiators!

So, we’ve taken a look at the best radiators for small rooms in a general sense. But what about specific use situations?

Many homes in the UK have a smaller bathroom to augment the heavy use of the larger one in busy family homes. Or if you’re fortunate enough, you have an ensuite bathroom you lucky devil.

For these small spaces, which see a huge amount of traffic and build up of moisture when compared to most other rooms, it’s best to consider the type of radiator that fits organically into this type of space.

The obvious choice for any bathroom. Although they are mainly designed to dry towels after showers or keep them nice and toasty for when you get out of the shower or bath, they also function as efficient heating units in their own right. As we discussed above, towel radiators come in all manner of designs to fit your unique style as well as limited space requirements.

These nifty and innovative units feature a mirror as well as radiator functions. Kill two birds with one stone by combining both of these essential bathroom items into one. These radiators are limited in terms of design, with the mirror in the middle and the radiator bars on either side, but they still pack a stylistic punch.

Radiators like the incredible Towelrads Stone Effect Vertical Radiator, have a unique style that is as decorative as it is functional. Featuring elegant patterning and ‘wow’ factor, these radiators are great as a style statement and for adding a feature to the wall that doesn’t even look like a radiator.

To get technical for a moment, the heat output of radiators is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU), these units of measurement let you know the amount of heat output you will get from your radiator.

The higher the BTU, the more heat your radiator will be able to belt out. But just going for the radiator with the highest BTU isn’t always advantageous.

There are numerous factors to consider with a small space, especially when it comes to deciding the best heat output to match the space.

Take into consideration if your room has:

• High ceilings
• A non-standard shape, i.e. isn’t square or rectangular
• Large windows
• No windows

All of these factors will affect the efficiency of the heat retention in the room. If it is a space that cannot be ventilated with a window, you won’t need a very powerful radiator to heat the room. If on the other hand, it has a large window, or the windows need to be open to let moisture out, then look for a more powerful radiator to pick up the slack. Windows also contribute to heat loss even when closed.

You won’t need a huge amount of BTU to fill a small space. There are numerous BTU calculators online that will quickly give you the optimal BTU for the space you have. Any radiator you choose should be within 10% of this figure to ensure the room is adequately heated.

For example, a standard 2m x 2m bathroom with only an extractor fan and no window will need 1300 BTUs to heat. Now, most radiators will easily be able to provide this, with maximum outputs way above this figure, but as a benchmark it is always best to check the BTU needed for your room and go from there.

Is the room going to be used frequently? Will it be a guest room, or a storeroom? If it is an office, having a radiator with lots of heat controls will be beneficial as the room is likely to be used all throughout the day, all year round. If it is a cloakroom, then don’t think too much about this sort of functionality.

Going for a more basic design capable of simple functions will be enough. With a bathroom, this will dictate the design. A bathroom requires more specialised features. You will need to choose a radiator that withstands constant moisture and use. Because of this, there is a huge and varied amount of styles to choose from for bathrooms.

Where the room is situated in your home will also have a bearing on your radiator choice. Many BTU calculators will also ask for these details as they will be determining factors in the heat retention of the room.

These factors include:

• What floor of the house the room is on
• What type of flooring the room has
• If it is near to external walls
• What is above the room
• The type of insulation you have

As you can see there is much to consider but getting the right radiator for the right space is important and, with some forethought, pretty easy.

When it comes to the small spaces in your home, they are just as important as the large ones where heating is concerned. With the most efficient radiators for each space you will hopefully see an appreciable difference in your heating bills, and in combination with modern and efficient insulation, keeping your energy bills under control becomes trivial.

Radiators for rooms big and small, should be incorporated into the overall design aesthetic of your home. It needn’t be an afterthought when carrying out a renovation or replacing a defunct radiator. Everything in the home is an opportunity for you to express yourself, even radiators!

If you are planning on remodelling a small bathroom and need an instant inspiration injection, consider having a look at our small bathroom ideas guide. This article is a comprehensive exploration of the latest on-trend decorating ideas when it comes to this often awkward space. And once you have your radiator you might be wondering how best to install it. Look no further than our guide on how to replace a radiator, which is easy when you know how.

For any more help with DIY projects around the home, check out our blog, a place filled to the brim with useful and informative articles on every area of the home. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for there, give us a call. One of our customer service representatives will be happy to answer any questions you have and advise you on the best ways to tackle your next project, as well as the very best products you’ll need to achieve success in your endeavours.

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