Decorating Guides
Shake Up Your Style With Scrabble-Inspired Decor
Take a page from these Scrabble fans, who have infused the look of the board game into their decor
Three out of five American households own a Scrabble board, according to game maker Hasbro. Scrabble was created during the Great Depression when architect Alfred Mosher Butts felt that Americans could use a pleasant diversion from their financial woes. Today, the small wooden squares marked with a single letter and corresponding point value are an instantly recognizable design. Here are 10 ways to incorporate this classic piece of Americana into your home.
Wow-worthy walls. Scale up Scrabble letters by cutting uniform sizes out of plywood and marking them yourself. It’s as easy as buying letter stencils and hanging the squares in crossword formation. This can work especially well in a family room or game room to fill a large blank wall inexpensively.
Another clever wall treatment is to make a grid so that wooden letters snap into place onto spaces that have been colored just like the real game board. (For a more budget-conscious option, use Velcro.) Kids love novelty, and scaling that defies reality sparks their imaginations.
Pillow power. Pillows are an easy, affordable and DIY-friendly way to play around with Scrabble pieces in the home. In a black and white design scheme, nothing else is needed. Plus, children always love seeing their names spelled out.
Mirror, mirror on the wall. This custom mirror frame was created by a Tampa artist who used Scrabble letters to hide words of encouragement among the jumble. Look closely to see how many phrases you can spot.
Make a Custom Nautical Mirror for Less Than $30
Make a Custom Nautical Mirror for Less Than $30
Show your tile style. They’re called “tiles” for a reason. This homeowner made use of 7,000 Scrabble tiles hand-laid and sealed with five coats of a water-based sealant. The toilet was mounted to the wall to avoid complications in fitting the tiles around its circumference.
Here, we see select letters used to spell out a message within a mosaic backsplash. The letters are a clever addition to an already enchanting mixture of broken plates, shells and halved ceramics. This whimsical approach is all about artistry and originality and will go well in a home that prizes upcycling and creative reuse.
A bright idea. Keeping with clever ways to upcycle, this custom lamp was fashioned out of a vintage candy dispenser. But instead of candy that might melt, the glass dispenser displays a collection of Scrabble tiles.
Keep it simple. A letter for each day of the week holds up the day’s menu under the headline “What’s for Dinner.” The possibilities for using magnetic Scrabble tiles to communicate messages to roommates and family members are virtually endless, all for the modest price of a little peel-and-stick magnetic tape.
Take it outside. Let’s explore how some old-school gaming enthusiasts brought the board game to the backyard. Cut into a concrete slab patio in Phoenix are 225 squares painted with Scrabble’s blue and red Double and Triple Word Score spaces. It’s a setup for the young at heart, to be sure, since playing requires stooping down to place one’s letters, but for a more physical, interactive way to play the game, there can be nothing better.
Another take on the backyard game board has the board set into a gravel patio with purpose-built letter troughs around the perimeter so that participants can sit on a pillow or pavement along the edges and play the game.
More
Great Game Setups for Snowbound Days
10 Places to Cozy Up With a Game
More
Great Game Setups for Snowbound Days
10 Places to Cozy Up With a Game