The Ultimate Guide to Name Plate Design for Your Home

A name plate or door plate serves the functional purpose of identifying a house. However, a name plate can also serve as a décor element that reflects the homeowner’s style sensibilities. “Nowadays, name plates come in various styles, such as modern, abstract, concept-based, as well as name plates inspired by one’s religion and can be custom-made in any Indian language. They can be hung or affixed on the doors, or at the entrance of the house or society,” says Abhishek Goyal, founder of Panchatatva.

House Name as per Vastu

As per Vastu Shastra, a house name should have a positive meaning. This will help invite positive energies and ensure happiness for the family. The inhabitants of the house must resonate with the energy the name draws. Make sure the house name is unique and not used by any neighbor.

Consider engraving the house name on a name plate of materials like wood or stone, which is recommended in Vastu Shastra. Do not engrave the name of the house on the gate. The house name must be engraved on the wall. Keep the area well-lit by installing gate lights. You can also place auspicious symbols such as Om or Swastik to boost the positive effects.

Name Plate Colour as per Vastu

The name plate colours, according to Vastu, should be chosen as per its direction. For example, east-facing homes should have name plates designed with brown or green colours.

When choosing a name plate design, it is essential to ensure that the colour of the name plate matches the front door of the house. For a wooden front door, a white colour house name plate as per Vastu is a good option as it is believed to attract prosperity and new opportunities for the family. You can also pick a golden name plate on a wooden front entrance door that looks elegant. The entrance area can be enhanced by installing suitable lighting fixtures to attract positive energies.

Vastu for Name Plates

According to Jayshree Dhamani, a Vastu Shastra and astrology expert, homeowners should always put up a name plate, as it is like a ‘tikka’ on the forehead.

“As per Vastu Shastra principles, the main door of a home is not only the entry point for the family but also for energy. So, if your home doesn’t have a name plate, it will be difficult for opportunities to find their way to you. A name plate should be readable, clear, and pleasing to the eye. Choose the correct material for the name plate, for positivity and harmony. A metal name plate is recommended if the door is in the north or west direction. Use a wooden name plate if the door is in the south or east direction. It is also good to decorate a home’s entrance with pictures or statues of Ganesh or auspicious signs such as Om, or the Swastika or even some shlokas,” advises Dhamani.

Name plates with hanging bells, floral designs, or a ‘kalash’ are considered auspicious.

Vastu Tips for Name Plates

Here are some home name plate ideas and more tips on the name plate for house entrance:

• Always have a name plate on the main door or the adjoining wall, if the space permits, as it is believed to attract prosperity, opportunities, and well-being.
• Ensure that the name plate is large enough to write one’s name or surname and the house number and is legible from at least a foot or two away.

What to Write on Name Plate for Home?

Usually, the surname of the family is mentioned on the name plate. Nowadays, people also mention the names of all family members on the name plate. It is important to keep the nameplate stylish but simple as per Vastu guidelines. Do not clutter it with too many designs, calligraphy, engravings, and idols of deities. Refrain from using stylish fonts that are thin, wavy, and hence, illegible.

Name Plate for Home: Direction and Position as per Vastu

• The name plate should be placed on the left side of the main door, as it is considered more auspicious than the other sides.
• The name plate should be placed at the height equivalent to the upper half of the door.
• The name plate should be fixed properly and should not be left hanging.
• Ensure that your name plate is not directly in front of the elevator.
• The name plate should not be chipped or have any holes in it.

Importance of Name Plate According to Vastu

As per Vastu Shastra, a house entrance holds special importance as it is the place from where energies enter and leave the house. Placing a name plate at the house entrance makes your house Vastu compliant. Without a nameplate, it will make it difficult for the person to seek opportunities.

According to Vastu Shastra, the main entrance door of a house should have a name plate that should be clear, readable, and appealing. It is also essential to choose the right material for the nameplate to ensure harmony and positive energy flow into the house.

Name Plate Materials as per Vastu

The most commonly used and budget-friendly name plates for apartments are made of acrylic or fibre. Simple signage for bigger and independent houses and buildings are generally made of glass and steel. Handmade signboards have a raw appeal, while designer name plates with creative use of fonts and a wooden finish can lend a stellar appeal, says Goyal. “Designer and multi-compound name plates are made from a combination of different materials like wood, glass, steel, terracotta, brass, jute, fabric, grass, or coconut. These name plates have a niche market. The trend now is to use a combination of various materials to give a unique look,” adds Goyal.

Seasoned wood, such as teakwood and railway sleepers, can also be used for making name plates. For budget-friendly options, commercial MDF (medium density fibre), plywood, veneer, and pine wood are ideal. Individual, preformed ceramic letters can also be used to create name plates, while stone, marble, mirror, and wrought iron are other common options. One can custom make name plates in various shapes, like rectangle, square, oval, round, house-shaped, and other irregular shapes. The name plates can be etched with motifs, or engraved with images of deities, or have photographs with floral designs, eye-catching calligraphy, etc.

Name Plate for Home: Personalised Designs

Modern-day homeowners prefer personalised name plates. Consequently, name plate designs often incorporate themes or the interest of family members, or the profession of a person, etc., says Goyal. “Traditionally, the trend has been to write one’s surname on the name plate. Then, people started writing their complete name. Now, people write their family name, along with the names of all members, including children. Recently, a client asked us to leave a blank space on the name plate, to add the name of a ‘soon to be born’ baby. People also add their pets’ names and photos on the name plates, as they are considered part of the families. With a growing trend of naming bungalows, row houses, villas, and apartments, even these names get inscribed on the name plate. Regional language name plates have become very popular,” Goyal elaborates.

Neha Mehta, a home-maker from Mumbai, maintains that an attractive name plate is important to create a good impression. “The name plate on my house is made of glass and raw wood, with lettering in gold and illumination behind it. My son, who is a Bollywood fan, has a film clapboard painted as a name plate outside his room and the name plate on my daughter’s room is pink and white, with flowers on it,” she explains.

The name plate will be the first thing a guest will notice when entering your home. Name plate for a house is a unique decor element which is why you should carefully select the design that suits your overall home décor. There are a variety of designs to choose from, but make sure you follow all the Vastu principles when picking a design.

Modern Name Plate Designs

Modern name plate designs made with wooden boards have always been in trend. Personalised name plates lend a personal touch to your abode. Besides picking the preferred materials based on your home décor, one can get their nameplates customised in their regional language.

Traditional Name Plate Designs

Religion-inspired name plates are quite popular. Among the various house name plate ideas, religious symbols or images of god, like one shown below on their personalised name plate are most sought-after by homeowners.

Wooden Name Plates

From dark brown to subtle hues, there are a plethora of options you can find in wooden name plate designs for home. Homeowners also prefer wood name plate designs where the details are engraved.

Besides wooden name plates, the other materials preferred by people today are glass, marble, acrylic, ceramic, steel, or stone.

DIY Name Plates

Creative name plate designs or DIY drawings or artwork are also emerging as an option for those who like to be creative or do not want to spend a lot of money on expensive name plates for their home. You can use materials like cardboard for designing the name plate. You can also pick a flat rock to engrave the name and house details using a sharp object like a knife. Installing background lights is yet another example of creative name plate ideas for home.

You can also use a wooden plywood material to design a creative name plate with drawings and handpainted designs using acrylic colour.

Glass Name Plate Design

Glass adds sophistication to the home décor and works as a perfect choice for designing name plates for the house. However, since it is a fragile material, a glass name plate has to be handled with care.

Marble Name Plate Designs

To lend a luxurious appeal to your home exteriors, you can pick a marble name plate design for your main gate or front entrance door.

Granite Name Plates

Granite is an excellent material that can be used for home décor, as per Vastu. Modern granite name plate designs for the home entrance look remarkable. The material, besides its shine, can withstand extreme weather and last for years. Moreover, granite name plate for home is suitable due to its easy cleaning and maintenance, while also being affordable.

Stone Name Plate

Stone brings a rustic appeal to the house when used for the exterior house design. Stone for the name plate also gives a unique look to the house entrance.

Steel Name Plate

If you are looking to bring a metallic touch to your home entrance décor, use stainless steel that is an ideal material for outdoors. There are plenty of name plate designs for the main gate available in steel. For choosing name plate designs for the main gate in steel, go for personalised designer options to bring a luxurious appeal.

Name Plate Vastu: Importance of Lighting

As per Vastu, the nameplate area should be well-lit. Avoid poor lighting or shadows falling on it, and it should be clearly visible and readable to everyone. Install energy-efficient LED lights or incandescent lamps.

Name Plate Vastu: Things to Avoid

When placing a nameplate at your home entrance, it’s essential to avoid certain mistakes that might affect the positive energy flow. Here are some things you should definitely avoid:

• Ensure there’s no pole, tree, or any object blocking the view of the nameplate.
• Avoid placing electronic items near the nameplate, as they can interfere with the energy flow.
• Keep cleaning items away from the nameplate area to maintain its cleanliness and significance.
• Ensure the nameplate is not torn or broken, as it symbolizes the home’s positive identity.
• Avoid having images of animals, birds, deities, or anything distracting on the nameplate.
• Limit the text on the nameplate to two lines for clarity and elegance.
• Regularly clean the nameplate to prevent dust, dirt, cobwebs, or any obstructions.
• Use easily readable fonts; avoid complex or hard-to-read styles for better clarity.
• Never place two nameplates side by side, as it might create confusion or conflict in energies.
• Make sure the nameplate doesn’t offer a space for lizards or animals to settle behind it.
• Ensure the letters on the nameplate are intact and well-maintained; damaged letters are considered inauspicious as per Vastu.

Conclusion

A name plate for home is more than just a functional item; it’s a reflection of your style and a beacon of positive energy. Whether you opt for a modern house name plate design or a traditional one, ensure it aligns with Vastu principles to invite prosperity and harmony into your home. From wooden to glass, and DIY to personalized designs, the options are endless. Choose wisely and let your name plate be the perfect introduction to your beautiful abode.