If I did paint it, it would look very much like this. Although the consensus here seems to be to keep it white so I am now considering that

White or black like your fireplace..... Yes, great baseboards!

@Lyndee Lee - thanks for your thoughts. I would not be painting the actual rads (I have done that, and you are right, they are a pain!) I am having rad covers made (wood boxes with metal fronts- Like the pictures of the examples above) My question was to paint them that creamy gray like the walls or white like the trim.

@combine - I was really more responding to queenvictorian about painting radiators, not covers. It looks like you are on your way to the new look and I think the radiator covers will really dress up the space. The radiator covers in my house were originally dark brown and I had the bedroom covers painted white as those rooms had painted trim. It was a great improvement and it made me wonder why I had not done it ten years ago when we painted the first time

Well, here they are in white! They are not finished yet as we are Waiting on the metal front and sides.
Now that you all can see them in white, should they stay that way or be painted wall colour?

Well, here they are in white! They are not finished yet as we are Waiting on the metal front and sides.
Now that you all can see them in white, should they stay that way or be painted wall colour?

They look awesome! We’re doing the exact thing you’ve done, except went with the louvered covers in white. Our walls are light grey. I love the clean and crisp look of the white. And as someone else said, embrace the historical look of the radiators/covers!

@poliphint. Would love to see pics

Yes, keep white!! Looks GREAT!!

Beautiful! Keep them white.

@combine Sorry, we don’t have the covers yet. Hopefully next week. Probably too late to send a pic then, but I’ll try to remember to do that just in case. I really do love the white in your room though! I’ll attach a pic of the “before/current”. For me, the worst thing about radiators is how much room they take up. We removed them from our kitchen and bathrooms and installed heated floors.

looks great in white

@poliphint Your room is lovely. I love that you can tell it s an old house- it looks cozy and I love the blue! I know exactly what you mean about how much room these rads take up. I am in love with my new room except that when I put furniture in it it looks terrible. I thought I was finished and I’ll set (and ridiculously excited)and then I brought the furniture up today and ....oh dear!! All because of the rads.

I will have to start a new thread for a furniture plan

Furniture plan. Here is what I had in mind and I have just assumed that it would work. I have the coffee table almost made (I will post a picture of what it will look like) I love this layout because I like that you can walk in from all the other rooms and it seems open.

Pity you couldn't have kept any wood parts of the piece with a wood finish and painted any metal with paint used to make metal garage doors look like wood. Since it's probably too late to try to make them look like a piece of furniture, white would likely be my preference; however, if you hate them white, paint them the wall color you like -- it's your home.

Here is the pic with jist the sofa (I intend to buy new sofa and chairs in the future in this similar colour scheme. For now I’m using my old furniture, and thank goodness, because the set up isn’t working. It would have been disastrous if I had bought new furniture

Now I Brought the chairs in and I feel the sofa and the chairs were just hiding the rides in the shelving unit which are now quite beautiful. So I rearranged it this way which also doesn’t work. I really really really do not like a coach in this area because I feel like I’m walking into the back of it from other rooms and alsoIt seems like it creates a hallway which I don’t love. I don’t like that you can’t openly walk into the room without walking around something. So this is my dilemma. I need help

Ugh. This is better bit still not great. Can’t imagine anything else as far as far as configuration. Anyone???

Oops forgot the picture. This is better but still not great. Would love input if someone has a better idea, or something completely different

And here is what the table will look like when it a finished.

Keep sofa parallel to rad wall, pull forward with sofa end centered on the window. Place chairs flanking the rad under the window. (Pull them forward a bit and angle inward.) It's a beautiful room.

I tried it (forgot to take a pic). It seem to have the exact same problem because both the chairs and the sofar the same depth. I am a girl that loves symmetry so anything asymmetrical drives me a little bit batty. This picture seems like my best option now that I have tried about eight different furniture placements (who knew that was even possible). What about this for now until I come up with a proper furniture plan and by size -appropriate furniture

I tried it (forgot to take a pic). It seem to have the exact same problem because both the chairs and the sofar the same depth. I am a girl that loves symmetry so anything asymmetrical drives me a little bit batty. This picture seems like my best option now that I have tried about eight different furniture placements (who knew that was even possible). What about this for now until I come up with a proper furniture plan and buy size -appropriate furniture

Combine, don't fret so much! Pick the furniture arrangement you hate the least and run with it for a while. Invite some friends over for drinks and hanging out, be keenly observant of how you all interact with each other and the space. If you find deficiencies, shuffle some stuff around, have friends over again, rinse, repeat.

Sometimes it's hard to know what will be the optimal furniture configuration, and sometimes the only way to figure it out is to test the layout in practice.

Additionally, I think your setup will be helped immensely by some end tables and lamps. Relying only on overhead lighting can make a place feel surprisingly desolate and unwelcoming, and you can mitigate that feeling immediately with lamp light.

@combine Thank you for the compliments! I'm so sorry you're not happy with the room once you have furniture in it. I'm not a decorator by any stretch, just someone who enjoys decorating my home, but I do think queen victorian is right - table lamps, decor items, throw pillow, pictures on the walls, maybe a rug and you might be surprised at how much more you like it.

Also, I don't know how much seating you're needing in there, but have you considered loveseats instead of large couches and/or chairs in a conversational grouping? Or maybe break the room up into different conversational or reading sections? Obviously, if this is a hang-out space for your family to watch TV, the different sections wouldn't work . . . just thinking of things I've seen done. Having chairs grouped around a coffee table has worked really well for us in the living room, but we're dealing with a very small space and you have a big room to fill.

I love the coffee table you're making! It will be gorgeous. Hang in there. I guarantee you'll end up finding the solution/s!

I guesstimated on measurements, but maybe this layout could work? Float sofa at entry, but centered more on the fire, closer to exterior wall. Two chairs grouped by shelf nook.

@melissa. Oh my goodness. How long did it take you to do that? Thank you so much!

Yes Melissa! That is a great layout! You want the larger couch to face your TV (above the fireplace)...assuming you will have one there. Then you can get a beautiful console for behind the couch if you want.....

I'd paint them the same color as the walls; otherwise, they will stand out.

You’re welcome Combine! I have an app, so it’s only took 15-20 minutes.

What was above the mantle? Is this room for tv
viewing or guests? Lovely home.

No TV in here at all. Just a sitting room

Sounds like you have a good carpenter. He will most likely match the cover to the scale and style of the lovely woodwork and it will become one with the window and baseboard and when painted white blend in.

Stay white or you will diminish that gorgeous window. When all the furnishings are in things will come together.

WHITE it is!!
Thank you all for your time and input. I really appreciated your thoughts and opinions.

@Melissa, what app did you use? I want it! ;-)

Laura Mac, it’s called TapGlance.

Thanks Melissa, I'll check it out!

I would paint it white ! Anyhow , you can't go wrong either way ...I just think it's better in white ..!

@Combine, be sure and post some pictures when you get your room the way you want it!

I would paint them white. They will never look like the wall (they have too much detail—holes for airflow, and a top that likely looks like a shelf). Hence, think of them as a piece of furniture, like a small side table or shelving unit—which you would more likely paint a trim colour than a wall colour. Again, painting them like the wall is an effort to make them disappear, but that’s just not likely to happen.

I don t love this set up but it seems to be the best one Thanks @Melissa

I’m so glad you posted pictures! Your room arrangement looks beautiful, and I think the white radiator covers were a great choice. Such a pretty room!

Thanks so much. I was grateful for all the advice. Mow to decorate ..... ideas??

Where did you put the table you had made ?

With the sofa where it is, the room is smaller amd the table is a beast. Left the table in another room

I'd never pretend to be a decorator, but I'm a fan of rooms that reflect your family's history and personality. Maybe some family photos on those gorgeous wooden shelves? Or a gallery wall of family photos or collected landscapes? Or start of collection of something that you love and display those items? A round ottoman in the center of the room, maybe covered in a dhurrie fabric or something with texture? These are things I would do, but they may not be your tastes. My main advice (after lots of mistakes) is to take your time and find things that you really love instead of getting it all done quickly. And classic choices never go out of style.

Thank you. So true and I very used to waiting so I don t mind. I need some furniture that is more size appropriate, but it will be a few years. As far as art and photos - haven’t seen anything I love yet, bit I will one day. I like the idea of putting a few fam photos up. Thank you so much