The short answer
If you search for a radiator cover with a shelf, you usually want two things: to make the radiator disappear and to gain a surface. Our solid oak radiator covers do the first — and deliberately not the second. They are open on top, with no board — not for an extra charge and not as a custom build. The reason is heat.
What a board above a radiator does
A radiator heats a room largely by convection: warm air rises, cooler air flows in from below. A closed board directly above it slows this flow — the warm air builds up underneath instead of moving freely into the room. And anything standing on the board sits permanently in the warm air:
- Plants dry out faster and get brown leaf tips.
- Candles and chocolate soften or lose their shape.
- Electronics such as chargers or speakers don't like constant heat.
- Books and paper dry out, and covers start to warp.
Then there's the dust the rising air carries with it. It settles on and under the board — where you can hardly reach to clean.
How our cover is built
Every slat is an L-profile in solid oak: at the front, a bar running the full height down to the floor; at the top, a slim arm reaching back to the wall. Side by side, the arms form an open grid that lets the warm air rise through. The sides are open too. Two cross rails directly behind the front bars hold the slats together.
It is always wall-mounted: you hook the cover from above onto a two-part hanging rail. To read the heat cost allocator, dust the radiator or move house, simply lift it off upwards.
If you still want somewhere to put things
Especially in a hallway, that's understandable. Three solutions work better than a board on the radiator:
- A wall shelf above: a separate shelf roughly 30–40 cm above the cover. The gap gives the rising heat room to spread.
- A piece of furniture beside it: a sideboard or a narrow console next to the radiator — for keys and post in the hallway, or a lamp and plants in the living room.
- The windowsill: if the radiator sits under a window, the surface is often already there. Sensitive plants are better placed to the side than right above the radiator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put things on the cover?
No. The arms are not a shelf but an open grid for the rising heat. For decor and plants, use a wall shelf above or a piece of furniture beside it.
Is there a version with a board on top?
No, deliberately not — neither for an extra charge nor as a custom build. A closed surface would trap exactly the heat that should go into the room.
How is the cover mounted?
On the wall, using a two-part hanging rail that is always included. You drill a few holes, screw on the wall part and hook the cover on from above — in about 15 minutes, no tradesperson needed. Screws and wall plugs are available as an optional mounting kit for €32; otherwise get ones that suit your wall. You'll need your own 6 mm drill bit.
Open on top, made to measure
In the configurator you choose size and wood colour — and the mounting kit if you like.
Related articles: The heat-loss myth · How to measure a radiator · Caring for oak next to a radiator