Use your words. We tell small children this all the time, by which we mean ask or explain instead of just cry or tantrum about whatever ails you. But what about when it comes to home decor? Should we use our words {on the walls}?

As the late comedienne Joan Rivers used to say…”can we talk?” There is a trend that has gone on for quite a while now in mostly *cough* farmhouse style *cough* decorating to use words on the wall (is farmhouse style a passing trend or a new classic? is another whole subject).  These words appear in the form of decals, hand painted DIY projects, plaques made from recycled pallet wood for that rustic vibe if splinters are your jam,…and sometimes spelled out in neon or 3D reclaimed or faux-reclaimed wood or metal letters. 

As with any home decor idea run amok, I blame HGTV for beating the trend to death.

Many designers shudder at the thought because aside from maybe some intentionally kitschy modern design, you won’t see this in ANY of the residential rooms by design icons. I’ve certainly not seen any in the sophisticated rooms by the likes of Phoebe Howard, Mark D Sikes, Bunny Williams, Suzanne Kassler, Charlotte Moss, and other top tier classic designers.  But then, these designers are not generally decorating suburban builder homes either.

SO Is it a decorating faux pas to use words on the walls?  I’ll go out on a design limb here and say, not always…shocking, I know! BUT if words or sayings on the walI spark joy for you, here are some suggestions for doing it tastefully.

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Here are some caveats if you want words on your walls…

Use them judiciously.  Do NOT plaster every wall or even every room in your house with words or letters as filler decor.

Stick to something with personal meaning.  A reclaimed sign from your great grandfathers apple farm is awesome, a bunch of directives to E.A.T. or W.A.S.H.? Not so much.

And on that note, most of us do not need directives about what to do in the kitchen, laundry, or bathroom, OR labels defining those spaces. A sign pointing out the bathroom in a public venue is useful, one pointing out the kitchen in your house is not, so unless you are have a household member with dementia, maybe avoid those kinds of signs altogether.

Try to avoid anything nauseatingly cutesy unless it is for a child’s room and you intend to change it when they get older. And frankly, cutesy is not necessary for a child’s room to be age-appropriate and fun!

Antique and one-of-a-kind is preferable to mass produced in China, when possible. 

Kitsch or humor can be fun in small doses - a neon “happy hour” sign on a basement bar, for example

A monogram letter or word mixed into a gallery wall can add a new shape to the composition, but limit it to one!

Decals are great temporary decor and so are ideal and appropriate for spaces like dorm rooms…but still, too much of a good thing is still too much, so please choose wisely!

If you want an inspirational or meaningful quote on your wall, consider a framed calligraphy piece instead of writing it directly on the wall.  This vaults it into the category of artwork and has a more classic feel.

Of course, as with all things in home decor, most importantly, do what makes YOU happy! 

Your home should be a reflection of the personality of the people who live in it.  Just be intentional about it, and make sure you aren’t just mashing every random idea you’ve ever seen on HGTV into your house without thinking.