Family Sayings and House Rules: Putting Your Own Words on a Canvas

Every home has its own language: a phrase that came from a toddler, a line someone always says on the way out of the door, a list of rules nobody wrote down. Those words, hung on a wall, can be more personal than any quote from a book. Here is how to turn them into a canvas that works.

Start by writing down the real words

Collect the phrases as they are actually said, including the odd spellings and the made-up words. The charm lives in the details. Ask other people at home for theirs, and you may find the best one is not the one you expected.

Decide whether it is a saying or a list

A single saying, such as a phrase everyone knows, makes a strong, simple canvas. A list of house rules, with several short lines, needs more room and a calmer treatment. Choose one idea per canvas, because a canvas trying to hold both tends to look cluttered.

Edit gently

Rules are often written as full sentences, such as “In this house we always say thank you.” On a canvas, short versions look better: “Say thank you.” Cut each line to its core, and keep the voice of the family. The result should still sound like the people who live there.

Keep humour readable

If the words are funny, set them plainly. A confident, clear setting lets the joke land. Heavy decoration or crowded lines make humour harder to read. A single line in bold raised lettering, centred in the middle of the canvas, is often the best treatment.

Choose the right room

A house rules canvas suits a hallway, a kitchen or a playroom, where people will stop and read. A private in-joke suits a bedroom or a study. Think about who will see it, and whether they will understand the reference.

Build it in the Builder

Use the Canvas Builder to try the words in different shapes and sizes. A tall portrait canvas suits a short list of rules. A wide landscape suits one long line. Our guide to how many words fit on a canvas will help you decide how many rules to keep, and you can send your idea in with any notes about how you would like it laid out.