Take a look around the rooms in your home.
Each room may serve a different purpose and it is likely that the decor will vary from room to room.
However, if you have a gas central heating system each room will share a common feature - a radiator.
It is more than likely that all the radiators throughout your home will be the same in terms of style and shape.
Traditional radiators aged around ten years and over were commonly cream or white and rectangular in shape and at this time it was hard to find anything with a little more style on the market.
Today, the days of a radiator merely being a unit to provide heat are long gone.
Bought wisely, you can turn your radiator into a striking piece of furniture and perhaps even the focal point of a room.
The choice of shapes, materials and colours available on the market today is vast and prices are becoming increasingly more competitive.
When buying new radiators you should always consider the size of the room and the amount of heat the room requires.
If you work with a good central heating installer they will be able to guide you on the heating requirement of each room and advise you on the most suitable types of radiator available for your budget.
Consider closely how you want to control the heating output in each room.
You should look to have thermostats on each radiator if you want to vary the temperatures from room to room.
You should discuss the location of the radiator with your heating engineer and don't always assume that you will position the new radiator in the same place as the one you are removing.
Consider multiple units per room, for example a large room may be heated more effectively from two small single radiators rather than just one large double unit.
A good heating installer will advise you on the pipe work in your home and will be able to determine how easy it will be to move the position of a radiator.
If you require additional pipe work the financial outlay will increase.
However, if you improve the look and warmth of the room you may decide it is a price worth paying.
Once you have worked out your technical requirements you can really get creative.
Do you want to make a feature out of your radiator? Floor to ceiling radiators in chrome or stainless steel are particularly attractive and are popular in large hallways and bathrooms.
Wide and squat shaped radiators make great features around a bay window and if your house has period features it is possible to find radiators that are sympathetic with that period in terms of style.
The function of the radiator should also be considered.
Heated towel rails are now a great way of not only adding warmth to a bathroom but also provide ample space for several bath towels (and any wet washing you may want to dry!) Their height also helps to turn a plain wall into a feature wall, without the need for any further decoration.
You should of course remember the position of you furniture though.
There is little point paying a premium for a designer radiator if you are going to hide it behind a sofa.
In this case you should opt for a more cost effective, traditional design.