interior-decorating-ideas.com

(ARA) - The written form of language has always had a primal power to move us. From carvings in caves to alphabets on hand-stitched samplers to the word “welcome” on a doormat, we’ve historically surrounded ourselves with a certain amount of typography in our homes. Now leaders in the home decorating industry say that interest in “interior typography” is soaring to new heights.

Mary McPhail, cofounder and creative director of WonderfulGraffiti.com, built her entire company around the art of lettering for home interiors. “I think personalization of anything is an important trend right now, and in a nation of 277 million households, everyone’s looking for ways to make their homes one of a kind.”

The centerpiece of McPhail’s Web site is a virtual wall that lets you customize your own typography in the form of Wonderful Graffiti. The ultra-thin, matte vinyl text mimics the look of printing on walls. It transfers easily to hard, smooth surfaces yet peels away completely without harming the underlying finish. Your lettered design is delivered to you, exactly as you designed it on your virtual wall, pre-positioned on a single sheet of transfer paper. Tape the sheet of transfer paper into position, rub down the text and peel away the transfer paper. Only the individual letters remain.

Wonderful Graffiti expanded their concept of interior typography this year with three new media: BlankCanvas is a collection of semi-customizable artists’ canvases featuring unconventional monograms and type designs in black and white. The Graffiti 3D collection offers a variety of three-dimensional letters in enamel, Lucite or metal. Graffiti Ghost is a semi-transparent vinyl transfer material for more subtle lettering effects.

“All of our wall decor is fun to work with,” says McPhail, “but if you want to integrate typography into your home, you can do it just as effectively with stencils, paint, paper, ink, markers, chalk, embroidery — whatever tools you’re most comfortable using.”

Are you brave enough to write on your walls?

We’ve all been taught since toddler-hood that writing on anything besides paper is “bad.” If it’s done at all, it’s only by artsy-craftsy types. What will the neighbors think? And what about resale value?

McPhail says to take a deep breath and open your mind. “Once you give yourself permission to let go, you’ll discover that the possibilities for ‘writing’ on your surroundings become exhilaratingly endless. And while you could begin by stenciling an inspirational quote on a wall or a child’s name on a bedroom door, why stop your thinking there? Imagining beyond what first comes to mind is the really fun part of decorating with typography.”

Think favorite recipes. Borders that tell stories. Poetry. Inside jokes. Motherly advice. Political statements. Even holiday greetings.

McPhail points to endless examples of how beautifully designed text can be integrated into a room’s design. You can put it to work welcoming guests, showing the way, organizing chaos or inspiring the kids. Or use typography to add an element of emotion anywhere in the house, whether it’s an upbeat phrase on your bathroom mirror to kick-start your day, a definition of family, a spiritual message that wraps around you and your guests at the dinner table, or a few sweet nothings to create a romantic mood in the bedroom. McPhail says that what her clients really gravitate to, though, are ways to personalize their spaces, say with a family monogram, or a sentiment that ties into a special interest like travel or fine wines.

For more information, log on to www.WonderfulGraffiti.com or call (877) 557-5675.