DIY Radiator Cover Plans

Want to build a radiator cover? Learn how to create a beautiful, pre-war inspired radiator cover with our downloadable radiator cover plans!

Well it’s been 2.5 years since we made this radiator cover for the foyer, I’m FINALLY sharing plans on how to create one yourself. Omg. Finally! I can’t tell you how many inquiries I’ve gotten about this project and so I’m really happy to finally get them in your hands! 

This is an intermediate to advanced project that requires some experience with building furniture. I’ve noted our dimensions, but of course, adjust them to your radiator size or if you don’t have radiators, perhaps build this cover as a table that gives the illusion of an old radiator in your space. 

We had to get a little (ok, alot!) creative, with the trim pieces on this piece. Ken spent weeks (I’m not exaggerating!) looking for a curved hardwood piece for the corners before finally going with MDF. If we could’ve done hardwood we would’ve but we’re not in the business of steam bending wood. This is the curved MDF piece we used. The radiator cover only uses 10″ total of curved or radiused corner moulding. However the only length we could find was 97″ long. Yikes! So we have quite a bit leftover currently hanging out in the garage rafters, and will come in handy when making our next radiator cover.

Also, we could only find the corbels in a thicker block and had to slice them down into 5/8 inch thick pieces. The front panel frame is nominal 1 inch thick and at 5/8” the corbels recess slightly so they aren’t all on the same plane face.

Download the PDF Radiator Cover Plans here!

Shopping List

• 1 x 3 pine — 8’ long
• 1 x 2 pine – 8’ long
• 48” x 12” x 1” Pine Board
• 2 Corbels (2-7/8” thick), sliced into four 5/8” thick corbels
• 2-13/16” Radiused MDF Corner Moulding
• 2 sheets of 36” x 36” – Perforated Metal Sheeting, Cloverleaf Pattern
• Screws and/or Wood Dowels
• Wood Glue
• Primer and Paint

Parts to Cut

Quantity              Size

• Qty 2                    1 x 2 x 36.25” long
• Qty 1                    1 x 2 x 20” long
• Qty 2                    1 x 2 x 6.5” long
• Qty 2                    1 x 2 x 2” long
• Qty 2                    1 x 3 x 36.25” long
• Qty 1                    1 x 3 x 20” long
• Qty 3                    1 x 3 x 30.5” long
• Qty 2                    1 x 3 x 6.5” long
• Qty 2                    1 x 3 x 2” long
• Qty 2                    Radiused MDF Slice – 2” high
• Qty 2                    Radiused MDF Slice – 3” high      

Tool Overview

• Kreg Jig
• Mitre Saw
• Orbital Sander
• Staple Gun
• Jigsaw

1. Begin by constructing the front panel frame and back frame. See Plans for details and dimensions, including front tapered leg dimensions. If desired, cut out base trim profile on back legs to allow the radiator cover to sit snugly against wall. Use a pocket hole jig and screws to assemble the front and back frames.

2. Next, build 2 curved sides for upper crossbar using 1 x 2’s (1 x 2 x 2 + Radius Corner + 1 x 2 x 6.5). We used a Kreg Jig (pocket hole jig) for assembling most of the cover frame, and this worked fine for the wood pieces, but the Kreg Jig split the mdf, so we ended up using wood dowels/wood glue with the mdf corners.

3. Then build 2 curved sides for lower crossbar using 1 x 3’s (1 x 3 x 2 + Radius Corner + 1 x 3 x 6.5). Assemble with wood dowels/wood glue.

4. Connect front and back panels with curved sides using a pocket hole jig/screws.

5. Use the assembled rounded side/corner shape as a template for the rounded front corners of the top.  Use jigsaw to cut the top’s shape. Then attach to frame from underneath with pocket hole jig/screws.

6. Attach corbels in 4 corners of front frame with wood glue.

7. Attach perforated metal sheeting on inside of radiator cover with heavy duty staple gun. One sheet (trimmed slightly with scissors) will cover the center panel and one of the side panels. Cut a second sheet to fit the remaining side panel.

8. Once the radiator cover is assembled, use wood filler to fill in gaps. Then sand smooth, and paint the piece your desired color. For tips on painting, check out my piece on how to paint a radiator cover.

More Good Reads:

• How to Restore an Old Radiator Cover
• Modern Tudor Foyer Reveal
• The No-fuss Guide to Painting Furniture