Word on the wall decorations

I have noticed recently a sea of words for walls—a trend that is very much taking over traditional pictures. They say a picture speaks 1,000 words but I am beginning to think that when it comes to interior decoration, words are where the attention really lies.

So what do you want on your wall? Well, there are a number of examples here to get you started. There’s “Think” from Cox and Cox, or the really expensive light boxes from Pedlars. Rocket St. George is the other place to head for ready-made wall stickers with sentiments such as “Love” and “Home Sweet Home.”

If you want to make your own letters, then I can not recommend highly enough the mirror letters from Graham and Green, who also do gilded letters. But for me the mirrors are the best—I love them so much!

Of course, if money is no object, then go for a personalized neon sign. Whichever option you choose, you can’t go wrong.

Do you need oversized wall decor? Using removable wall decals to put word art on wall is a cheap and amazing solution!

A few months ago I was given the task of decorating our new children’s ministry building.  The children’s pastor had shown me a few pictures of what she was thinking and as much as I loved the idea, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do it.

There was a huge long wall that was blank and the plan was to put word wall art up that covered most of the wall.  Being type A I had to think for a while on how to apply large wall stickers so that they were straight.

I’m happy to say, with the help of free software and my Cricut, I was able to cut out all the words and apply them to the wall and it only took a few hours. 

This was one of those projects that I actually impressed myself with how this large church wall decor came out! 

Materials Needed for Oversized Wall Decor

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links from Amazon and/or Cricut.com. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my links (purple text).  **Cricut sent me the removable wall vinyl but the opinions and project are my own.

• Vinyl – I used removable vinyl in a variety of colors
• Cricut cutting machine – always check prices between Cricut.com and Amazon (click links to compare!) 
• Transfer tape – I used two different kinds and the one that ended up being easiest was my favorite transfer tape
• Weeding tools and large scraper
• blue painter’s tape
• ruler
• level and/or laser level

How to Design Word Wall Art

This is what makes this project pretty easy… Free websites that make word art!  There are quite a few online but I ended up using WordArt.com.  

When you open it up, hit the Create button and it will bring up a new screen.  Start typing in words on the left-hand side in the word box.  Next to that, it will say “size” and the default is 1.  For the words, you want bigger increase this number.

I entered all the words I wanted to use and then I just played with the numbers.  Another thing you’ll want to play with is “Layout” which is down towards the bottom.  You can change the layout and see what you like and also click the different toggles to see what happens.

Once you have the word art how you like it, you can download it or email it.  I downloaded and printed it out.

Transferring Word Art to Cricut Design Space

If you want everything the same color you can probably upload the JPEG or PNG to CDS.  However, if you want the words really big for a huge wall, then I would assume the letters might get blurry as you start making bigger and bigger.

So I just used my printed word art and used it as a guide in creating the wall mural decal in Design Space.  I used separate text boxes for each word.  I typed in each word using the font Chip Decor – Chipboard font.  Once I had all my words in, I then started resizing them based on my printed word art guide.  Don’t make them huge at this point!  Just bigger.

If you want to access my file in Cricut Design Space click here.

Then it was easy to rotate, change the colors of the words, and place them the same way they are on the paper.  Make sure that each word is “attached” so that Cricut knows to cut the letters together.

To make the words huge, group everything together.  You can click “select all” at the top and then click “group” on the top right.  Zoom out so that the canvas is at 25% (click the minus button on the bottom left).  

The largest you can cut is 11.5 inches so the words you want the biggest can not exceed that size.  If the largest word is longer than 23.5 inches then you are going to have to cut them separately.  I had to separate Bayside in mine.  I attached BAY together and also attached SIDE together.

Then you are ready to cut!

Cutting Large Words with a Cricut

Note: This would be a great project for the Cricut Maker 3 or Explore 3 with the Smart vinyl that is super long! No taping would be necessary, but I made this years before the newer machines came out!

The most important thing when cutting is that you want to have the vinyl on the mat straight.  You want to keep everything as straight as possible.  So when cutting the words apart use a ruler and Exacto knife.

I used a ruler and TrueControl knife to cut in between the words.  Weed off the extra vinyl.

Applying Removable Wall Decals

The tricky part of applying this big wall decor was that the paint on the wall was shiny and the wall was textured.  Which means things do not want to stick easily.

The best and easiest wall to do is one with flat or matte paint.  Satin or eggshell is shinier because it helps prevent stains and you can wipe it off easier.  Thus not wanting blue painter’s tape to stay:(

So that did make this application longer and tougher but we did it!  I just had to use a little more muscle in the scraping down.

For the large long word, Bayside, I taped the backings together and applied a very long piece of transfer tape to the entire word.  

Scrape down the transfer tape well.  Turn it over and scrape the back side too.

I measured the length and height of the wall and marked where the center was.  I wanted the large wall mural decal to be a little lower than the center so I marked about 8 inches down.

Then I used a laser level and had a friend make small pencil markings along the laser line.  We lined up the bottom of the plastic backing with the pencil marks and taped down the top.  The lighting in the building is bad, so sorry for my horrible pictures!!

Flip the image up and peel off the plastic paper.  Lay the vinyl down and smooth it out from the middle to outside.  Scrape down really well and then remove the transfer tape. 

Make sure to watch the quick video to see this part in action.  Sorry, the lighting is so bad!

For the rest of the words, I applied the transfer tape that I just used (The transfer tape actually releases a little easier as it gets used more).  I think I was able to use the same long piece I used for the large words for the rest of the smaller words.

Using your printed word art as a guide, tape up one word at a time.  I placed a three inch ruler in between the words to make sure they were straight and then taped it down.

Flip it up (or down depending on where you applied the painter’s tape), remove the paper backing and lay it back down.

Scrape it down really well and peel off the transfer tape.

Keep repeating the same steps until you have all the word wall art up!

A few other bible verses I put up on other walls.

Word art on wall would also be perfect for wall decor at home, especially in a kids’ bedroom.  Since it’s removable you could change it out whenever you want!

If you’d like to save this tutorial for later, simply hover over the top left of the image below and PIN It now!

Thank you for stopping by!

Have a creative day,

Decorating with letters has become a trend lately and more and more people are showing interest in this matter. It’s a way of customizing a space without making it look and feel too personal. The wall letters can be initials or can form words that send messages. There are numerous different and interesting ways of using either wooden or metal letters and each one is unique and special in its own way.

Dinings room and kitchens

Displaying letters on the wall can be a good decorating strategy for areas such as the dining room. These spaces have to accommodate the entire family as well as guests so personalizing it too much is not a very good idea.

In the dining room, a wall can be decorated with letters that light up and send a message. It’s usually best to keep things simple and neutral and to use general words such as “love”. “family” or messages such as “welcome” and other similar ones.{found on bryanthill}.

These large metal letters fill out the emptiness on the wall and makes this breakfast nook a lot more welcoming and cozy. The idea is very simple but the visual impact is a strong one, especially considering the size of the letters.{found on wettling}.

Combine different fonts, colors and sizes if you want the wall letters to look quirky. You can also choose different methods of displaying them and use them all together.

Something as simple as the word “home” written on the wall can make a kitchen or dining room feel extra welcoming and cozy, creating a pleasant and familiar ambiance.{found on duetdesigngroup}.

Kids’ rooms

The kids’ bedroom is another space where you can successfully decorate with wall letters. For example, if two kids share the same room, you can have their initials displayed above the beds as a way to personalize an are of the room.

The letter initials displayed on the wall above each bed can be the element that ties everything together. Their color can coordinate with other elements in the room, maintaining cohesion.{found on trentleephotography}.

Wooden letters on the wall can also serve as an educational tool. Display colored letters in different fonts and sizes on one of the walls in the nursery or playroom and use them to teach kids the alphabet.{found on chebellainteriors}.

It would be fun to coordinate some of the colors featured by the alphabet letters with other details in the room, even if they don’t have the same visual impact.{found on nessadeeart}.

Integrate the alphabet into the room’s décor by using colors that already exist on the wall or close-by. For example, the colors featured by the stripes on this wall were also used on the letters, forming a perfect match.

Wall letters are a good way of decorating a kid’s room without making it seem like you’re pushing your own vision. They’re simple enough to leave plenty of room for customization.{found on sarahgreenman}.

You can use large wall letters with embedded lights in the nursery without overwhelming the room. In fact, they can actually be quite subtle. It’s a matter of finding the right balance.

Personalizing the kids’ rooms with their names using wooden or metal letters on the wall is a popular practice. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t add your own twist to this design idea.{found on mendetc}.

Another option is to use wall letters to establish a certain ambiance in the room or to emphasize a theme. This can be a starting point or a finishing touch, depending on how to plan the whole process.{found on magnoliahomes}.

The order and the way in which you display the letters on the wall is up to you and can be customized in an infinity of ways. For example, you can frame each letter and arrange them all in a pattern.{found on daniellesykes}.

A teen’s bedroom can be easily personalized using wall letters. In this case, the letters would be used to send a different kind of messages and often to highlight a theme or to set a certain type of ambiance.{found on taylor-studio}.

Instead of using wood or metal letters, you can try using letter wall decals. You can display them in a random pattern or arrange them in words to send a message.

Other

Welcome guests with a friendly message which you can make visible using wood letters on the entrance hall. Similarly, this can also work in the living room.

Create a pleasant ambiance in the master bedroom by using the same strategy. Here you can see that mirrored letters were used. This opens the door to a whole new range of possibilities regarding the materials from which the letters are made.{found on h3kdesign}.

Speaking of which, here’s a very interesting way of personalizing the wall letters by using tiny succulents. Basically, each letter is a planter, acting as a frame for the succulents.{found on webberstudio}.

Another area where you can successfully use wall letters as decorations is the home office. In fact, in here they would serve a double role, also being able to represent you in a professional way.

Similarly, one portion of a room can stand out from the rest. You can set up a workspace in the living room or bedroom or add a desk in the kids’ room and use large wall letters to differentiate it from the rest of the room.{found on pebble-design}.

There’s no need for bold colors or unusual shapes when all you want is to add a small detail that makes the bedroom feel inviting, warm and relaxing. In fact, you can use wall letters that have a specific finish or texture for that.

The versatility of wall letters also allows them to be used in bathrooms. When you think about it, there are very few ways in which you can personalize this space using decorations and this is a great option.

Wall letters with LED lights can make a statement anywhere you place them. The main idea is to make them integrate into the décor and to also pick a style, size, color and message that suits the space.{found on echeloncustomhomes}.

To better integrate the wall letters into a space’s décor, you can combine this method with others such as displaying letters on a mantel or a shelf.

DIY letter projects

Now that you have a general idea about how letters can be used in interior décor, let’s take a look at a few DIY projects involving letters. A good starting point is the one we found on Maisondepax. It shows you how to make letter chalk slates. You need MDF letters and chalkboard spray paint.

For a vintage touch, decorate a wooden letter with doilies. The whole process is simple. Start by painting the letter. Let it dry and then add a mod podge layer. Lay the vintage doily on top of the letter and add a top coat of mod podge. {found on avery-anderson}

Another way of decorating a wooden letter involves using jute string and felt flowers. The first step should be painting the letter if you want to change its color or to simply give it a fresh look. Then wrap string around it, covering portions of the letter. Then decorate these portions with felt flowers. {found on meganbrookehandmadeblog}

A lovely project you can use for the kitchen requires you to repurpose some old cutting boards. The main idea is simple. You attach letters to the cutting boards and then you display them on a wall. You can find more details and instructions for the project on Andersonandgrant.

Remember those wall letters filled with succulents? Now you can find out how to make them. You have to build or buy the letter frames. After this, the whole process is very simple. You’ll be planting the succulents in moss which you have to soak with water to make the whole process easier. Find out more about this inspiring project on Houseandfig.

The way in which you decorate the space has a lot to do with the type of decorations you use, the material that they’re made of, the finish, color and so on. The Winstock Gingham letters featured here are made of plastic and are wrapped in cotton fabric. They come with the necessary hardware for mounting them on the wall and they measure 9” H x 8” W x 1” D.

Of course, when talking about letters of any kind, the font is very important. These gorgeous monograms have a very stylized font and they’re meant to be used separately and not to form words. The Passarelli monograms are made of birch plywood and they can be stained and painted if you want to customize them to suit your décor. The dimensions are 17.75” H x 19.5” W and the mounting hardware is included.

Monograms and decorative letters are commonly used in nurseries and children’s rooms. They’re a simple and chic way to personalize the space. The Fecteau adventure Awaits monogram set is definitely playful and cheerful, perfect for a baby’s or a toddler’s room. It’s a three-piece set, with wooden frames and water-resistant canvas. The design is cute, bold and simple and each of the three panels measures 16″ H x 16″ W.

The Roberto wall letters are wrapped in lovely cotton fabric with a candy stripe pattern. They’re made of plastic which makes them lightweight and easy to hang on the wall. Each letter measures 9” H x 8” W x 1” D and you can choose any letter of the alphabet or select multiples to create words or various custom compositions. They each come with a metal hook for easy hanging.

These canvas letters are more like monogram paintings rather than decorative letters. They’re 100% handmade and each one is unique, resembling a very detailed sketch, an abstract interpretation of a letter but detailed with all sorts of little elements. It’s really interesting to identify all the details which makes these monograms a really cool decoration for a variety of different types of spaces.

On a related topic, you can decorate your walls with various signs like this hashtag symbol. It’s a Marquee sign with built-in LED lights and it’s a very simple and effective element to decorate an empty wall with. It’s definitely a statement piece that can be interpreted in a variety of different ways depending on the context. The LEDs offer a warm glow when they light up and you can also use this as a source of ambient lighting for the room.

Individual letters are monograms are one of the forms of textual art that you can use in your home décor but there are also others. You can also find all sorts of lovely decorative signs like this Dream one for example. They’re cute and colorful and sometimes inspirational and they’re a nice way to add character and style to a room in a casual manner.

This Caterpillar Love is also really cute and would look lovely in a variety of different settings and decors. It’s made of wood and it comes in a variety of different sizes. The smallest one measures 18” H x 18” W which makes it square and quite versatile. The biggest version measures 40’’H x 40’’W and is better suited for large and open spaces rather than cozy bedrooms.

This ABC sign is also a really nice example of a casual and colorful wall decoration that doesn’t necessarily have a very specific design but still looks lovely. It has a sleek wooden frame covered in cotton gallery canvas and comes with a wire hanger so you can easily display it on a wall. The design is playful, colorful ad quite abstract which makes this a very versatile decoration.