Posted on: March 15, 2006
Buy Better Letters
Make the most of your monograms by choosing the right type and place for your initials.
By Bev Bennett
CTW Features
Image courtesy West Elm
Monograms have long been a staple in home décor, but a trend toward simpler styles mixed with modern furnishings is giving initials a more casual presentation. Experts see a move from elegant cursive scripts to larger block lettering that appeals to younger, trend-conscious consumers in search of no-frills personalization.
If you’re thinking of adding some letters to your home, keep these things in mind.
• When shopping for children’s towels, choose monograms that are sewn with dark thread since the typical white initials get dirty easily. Red letters on navy blue towels; navy on orange; blue on green are options.
• Select type fonts for monograms that complement the rest of the room. If your furnishings have spare, clean lines, opt for simple letters. Match country French décor with a feathery script.
• Keep all the fonts the same or complementary in one room. Different designs fight each other.
• Use monograms to trick the eye. For example, put the letter B on its side. Place a full row on the edge of a curtain for a scallop effect.
• Decorate belongings such as storage containers with peel-off letters. Shop for other temporary markers at craft stores.
The Initial Gift
Although you’re more likely to purchase than make monogrammed items, your letter fixation is a great creative outlet.
• You may have seen the little identity “bracelets” people put on wine glass stems so they can tell their glass apart during a party. You can do your own initial version. Decorate a pipe cleaner or wire with beads. Attach an initial.
• Buy a large letter that includes an attachment for a key chain. Glue on enough crystal beads to cover the letter.
• Take French ribbon, tie it around hand towels and add a letter. Give this as a hostess gift, says Robyn Smalletz, president of Gloria Duchin, Inc., East Providence, R.I.
• Paint an initial with your child’s favorite colors and fix it to his bedroom door.
• Purchase an inexpensive set of coffee mugs. Paint the initial of each family member on a mug.
