Top Designers Share How to Make Word Art Work in Your Home

Word art is a form of expression that can transform a room into a more personal and meaningful space. Top designers share how to keep it fresh and modern.

Courtesy of Marie Cloud

Whether you’re a fan of word art or consider it passé, experts say this design element isn’t going away anytime soon. “While it may seem like a passing trend, words have actually been incorporated into art since ancient times,” says Cathy Glazer, founder of Artfully Walls.

“People love expressing themselves and word art is just one more way of bringing personality into your home,” says Cortney Novogratz, interior designer and co-author of The Novogratz Chronicles: Lessons Learned from Twenty-Five Years of Buying and Renovating Homes. “Pieces like those by artists David Kramer or Graham Gilmore show how it can evolve into something that’s smart, playful, and meaningful.”

Ahead, top designers share how to tastefully work word art into your home.

The use of text gained momentum during the 20th century through movements like surrealism and pop art (think Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein), and later with street artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring.

In the early 2000s, the rise of DIY home decor made word art mainstream. “During this time, people began embracing motivational and inspirational sayings,” says Marie Cloud, the owner and principal designer at Indigo Pruitt Design Studio. “Wooden signs, vinyl decals, and canvas prints featuring simple words or phrases like 'Live, Laugh, Love' became widely available. Then word art became even more prominent with the rise of farmhouse-style decor.”

Tori Sikkema / Courtesy of Leslie Rinehardt

According to most design experts, word art should be used in small doses as too much of it can feel kitschy. “Moderation is key,” says Tiffany Matthews, founder and lead designer of Motif Homes. Agrees Lina Galvao, co-founder of Curated Nest Interiors, “Make it a single moment or two—no more than that.”

“Unfortunately, the market has been over-saturated with quasi-metaphysical sayings when it comes to word art,” says Leslie Rinehardt, co-founder and interior designer at Rinehardt Miller Interiors. “The best way to incorporate it into your home is to use it sparingly and be intentional in its application."

Stay away from text that feels overly literal, like a sign that says "Laundry" in the laundry room. “Instead, opt for something that has meaning or moves you,” says Glazer. Agrees Miami-based interior designer Ania Agárdy, “I tell my clients to use short phrases that truly resonate and to stay away from trendy phrases.”

“I gravitate towards edgier and more artistic words and phrases,” says Becky Shea, founding partner and creative director at BS/D. “For example, pop art curse words add a cool, unexpected touch, especially in a space like a bar. To me, that's where word art can truly shine.”

Simple fonts can create a more sophisticated look. “A clean, modern typography that blends in seamlessly with various styles of decor will make word art feel more cohesive,” says Agardy. “My personal inclination is towards script.”

Novogratz likes a playful, handwritten font to keep things chic without being overly fussy, while Glazer loves when painters integrate words in a poetic, abstract, and painterly style, blurring the lines between writing and drawing. “I gravitate towards works by Sandy Welch, Kate Roebuck, and Meta Wraber,” she says.

“While I’m not typically a fan of the mass-produced signs we've seen over the past few years, I think word art has a place when the typography becomes a design feature in itself,” adds Cloud.

“I love when the letters are made out of fabric or some other craft material with dimension, like neon lights from Yellowpop, that add both a light source and a fun pop of color,” says Galvao. Mixing different materials like metal and wood can also add texture. “My favorite type of word art is either graffiti-style canvas or glass that's backlit, creating a striking and modern effect,” says Shea. “I recently worked on a project where the words only became visible under a black light, adding a whole new dynamic to the space.”

“Adding wall art in small ways, like layering a wooden-framed phrase among art or photos or incorporating an acrylic desk plaque with a witty saying, is a great way to keep it fresh,” says Ursula Carmona, a featured finder at HomeGoods. Cloud likes to bury word art in cozy reading nooks or in gallery walls, where it feels like a thoughtful addition.

If you're making the effort to commission a piece, be sure it's meaningful and personal. “Consider a favorite song lyric, an important date, or a comforting phrase that a loved one often uses,” suggests Glazer.

“Custom word art works in places where you want to add a bit of personality or edge, like in a den, bar, or home theater,” says Shea. “I once created a unique graffiti piece for a client that said, ‘Put Your Phone Down’, which was playful and added just the right amount of attitude to the space.”

“I prefer one-of-a-kind, not mass-produced, compelling word art that’s edgy, playful, and capitalizes on pop culture,” says Rebecca Bobroff, interior designer and founder of Rebecca Bobroff Design.

For all its hype, some designers just can’t seem to embrace word art. Here are a few alternative ways to send or display a message.