The use of written words as wall decor has bloomed since manufacturers perfected the technique of computerized stenciling and peel-and-stick application. Homeowners can now totally customize their painted walls with scrolled fonts and color-coordinated sentiments to warm the hearts of visitors who enter their homes. With possibilities limited only by the size of your pocketbook or your willingness to go at it yourself with a paintbrush and ladder, choosing what to write and where to put it are the next considerations to ponder. When done well, written words as art can add a meaningful and decorative element to your home that can spark conversations and delight visitors for years to come.

• Short Phrase

Use a favorite quote, Bible verse or line from a movie to highlight the space over a doorway, a bed or fireplace. Match the size of the wall space with the amount of letters you have so that when the phrase is centered on the wall, it isn’t too diminutive or overwhelming to the space. If you purchase letters from a manufacturer, its instructions will help plan your space.

Consider using smaller lettering as you might in a scrapbook for an accent in a grouping of framed photographs or larger letters as a stylish backdrop for a hung sculptural piece.

• One Word

Sometimes one word says it all, and with all the different font styles, colors and sizes that written word wall art is available in, one word can make a big impact on any space. Stencil or paint one word on a wall if it’s just a few letters, such as a baby’s name over a crib, a comical reminder to “flush” in a child’s bathroom, or the word “Welcome” over the kitchen door. These are good projects for novice painters. For more drama, order large letter decals if you choose to display the word “LOVE” over an entire bedroom wall or “HI” in your foyer.

• Make it Yours

No matter the size, color, font style or placement of the written word wall decor, the most important part of it is the text itself. Take your time in choosing it, and make it personal. Steer away from cliched and overused phrases, such as “Live, Love, Laugh,” that you might get tired of in a few months or that may not get you the designer nods of approval you are seeking.

Instead, more personal text is a better use of the medium. For example, keep track of catch phrases each person in your family uses time and again, and incorporate them into your wall art. Write your own poetry, or use the text from an old love letter written from your grandfather to your grandmother. Choose one-of-a-kind elements to make your written word wall decor a design element that you will always love and a conversation piece your visitors will delight over.