Oh, my word!

From hieroglyphics to graffiti, using wall space to convey a message and express oneself is as ancient as, well, cave drawings.

‘Drawings and scriptures were mostly used to tell a story, but also to mark people’s space and ultimately to beautify it,’ explains Lecia de Waal of De Waal Art. And we’re seeing much the same in décor today – in fact, typography is everywhere!

Old school’s new
More and more, people are gravitating towards traditional ways of doing things, be it decorating with doilies or a sending a handwritten letter, there’s a comfort in the familiarity of the old. Esther Schumacher from My Wall Tattoos has tapped into this trend by introducing nostalgic quotes, idioms and expressions into her wall vinyls, and is currently working on a range in Afrikaans, while Nadia van der Mescht has started The Package Project, aimed at connecting like-minded, creative people globally with old-fashioned package swaps that include a personal note and souvenirs representing the sender’s home and lifestyle.

Ways to play on words
• Decorate floor tiles with durable vinyl letters
• Write your family members’ names above their own towel hooks in the bathroom.
• Enhance a focal point such as your fireplace or entrance hall with an abundance of meaningful vinyl words.
• Get practical and use hand-painted recipes as wall art in the kitchen.
• Sandblast motivational words such as ‘You beauty!’ on your mirrors to give you and instant pick-me-up.
• Artfully display personal quotes or sayings from family members or friends.