The Power Of The Monogram: How They Can Make Your Home Feel More Personal

To monogram, or not to monogram, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler to leave your towels unbranded, or end the debate by marking up everything you own, well, the answer to that actually rests somewhere in the middle. The act of stamping items with someone's initials written in a fancy font started in Ancient Greece, where members of the nobility carved the first letters of their names onto coins. Because of this history, when you monogram your things, you give those items an air of gentrification by association. Moreover, in a world where most home goods come off the rack, scrawling your initials across the bottom of a towel offers you a practical way to go bespoke.

And while we've used monogrammed towels in the example above, there isn't anything restricting you as far as what you could put your abbreviated moniker onto. Your towels and linens are the start, not the end of your monogrammed home decor items. Your mug collection. The cedar chest at the end of your bed. Those Christmas stockings. You name it. All of 'em could be monogrammed.

And certainly, you can buy new items to monogram. However, the strongest personal connection you'll get from this practice comes from adding your initials to something that's already a favorite of yours. For example, you could engrave a writer's initials onto his vintage writing desk — with permission, naturally. Or have a wine collector's favorite set of glasses emblazoned with her personal letters. Chances are, the item in question will become even more personal and important to its owner after the monogram has been added to it. 

The items we surround ourselves with tell a story and bring context to our lives, and context is a key component to making your monogrammed personalization feel even stronger. For example, maybe you have a Turkish coffee set that you and your spouse bought as a souvenir on your honeymoon. Unless it's completely bespoke, chances are you're not the only couple who has that set. Having your personal letters printed on the mugs solidifies the significance of the keepsakes. However, the addition of lettering alone may not tell the full story for you, even with your initials written on the set.

Here's what might. Make a display of the monogrammed cups by putting them into a stylish cabinet. You'll give the story of the mugs even more context if you include photos of the two of you drinking out of the cups during your wedding trip. Add even more personalization still by placing the photos in specially monogrammed frames in the cabinet with the set. The cluster of related items positioned together and the tiny details that the contextual pieces add to the mug display make it so much more personal. 

In corporate branding, the choice of a font for the logo is well-thought out. A block letter in a logo sends a different message from a character written in a graceful cursive script. And the same is true with the letters you put on the personalized items in your home. The fonts you choose say a lot about your personality and design style, so choose them wisely.

Imagine, for example, what a monogram written in delicate Victorian script would look like on a throw blanket in an industrial decor design den. Or how would a font that has historically been used in military communication come across if you put it on a pastel floral pillow in a tea room? These examples are extreme. However, they ask you to consider the overall message that you get, not just from the monogram, but also from the lettering and the items you put your initials on.

Neither font on its own in the examples is wrong. However, each one may look out of place next to its surroundings. And more importantly, it may be out of context with who you are and what you're trying to say about yourself through your things. A monogrammed possession of yours that's on-brand for you will just "look" like you and feel like you. In other words, it'll personalize your already established aesthetic; the monogram just adds to the message that's already there.