Create Custom Name Decor With An IKEA Shadow Box DIY

Distinctive and personal décor is a necessity, especially if you're decorating spaces like a child's room or nursery where more traditional wall art found in many home retailers doesn't fit the bill. While you can decorate a kids' space in a number of ways, the most beautiful items can sometimes be the most personal and unique. And luckily, there's a beautiful technique for creating customized name and monogram art using very affordable shadow box frames from IKEA, some fabric, and wooden letters, which can be used for stylish décor for the room's inhabitants. These adorable and whimsical signs can be a great way to add interest to an empty wall. 

IKEA frame shadow boxes come in a number of sizes, including the SANNAHED 19 ¾ x 19 ¾ inch square box frame for $20 and a smaller 9 ¾ x 9 ¾ inch version for $10. If you're in need of wooden letters, a variety of sizes are sold at Michaels, including the nearly 5-inch White Letter by Make Market. These boxes make a chic nursery idea or would be perfect in a playroom or kid's room. They also work as monogrammed home décor for any room of the home.

Begin with disassembling the IKEA box frame and using the back as a template to mark up your backing fabric for cutting (you can also use paper). Use glue or spray adhesive to adhere the fabric or paper to the backing. Prepare your letters by painting them in your desired finish. Some ideas include using chalk paint for a rich matte finish, but you could also use acrylic paint or spray paint for this project. Another idea is to sand and stain your letters with your favorite shade. Assemble the layout of your box first to determine placement before you commit with glue. This is a great chance to add other elements, including other wood appliques and pieces, small toys, keepsakes, or other contents to the box. Once you have everything in place, begin gluing down pieces with wood glue or white glue. Allow the elements to dry and assemble the frame for hanging. 

Use a mix of larger and smaller wooden letters, like Scrabble tiles or children's blocks, to spell out names and messages. For a fun spin, leave smaller letters sit loose in the bottom of the box with the name glued in place above. You can also create a shadowbox to hold all your treasured keepsakes from a vacation with the letters spelling out your destination. Or assemble one with ornaments and holiday accents as part of your seasonal décor.