From bath towels and throw pillows to fluffy robes and wine glasses, you can monogram pretty much anything these days. Sprinkling your personal monogram throughout various rooms of your house can make each space feel truly yours. But did you know that your pet can also get in the personalization action? It is their home sweet home, too, after all, so here’s how to monogram your pet’s initials throughout your home, according to interior design experts.
What Are Monograms Anyway?
Monograms are usually formed with the first letters of a person’s first, last and, if they have one, middle names and are often embroidered or printed on personal and home goods.
Monograms date back thousands of years, having first been found on clay coins used by the Greeks and Romans, says Ashley Levy, a New York City interior designer and home stylist. But monograms as we know them today started in the Victorian era (1837-1901), when people began using them as a stylish touch on clothing, linens and cards.
When it comes to monograms, it’s rare that any two are exactly alike because of the number of fonts, colors and decorative options out there today. But there are few common design styles: “A more traditional monogram would include three letters in a classic font—think curvy script fonts with decorative flourishes,” explains Levy. Traditionally, with a three-letter design, the last initial stands as the center letter and at a larger size than the first and middle initials, which flank it. If one doesn’t have a middle name, then classic styling dictates that the first and last initials stand at the same size. However, monogramming is getting a bit of a modern makeover.
“Monograming a full name is becoming a popular option depending on the size of the item to be personalized,” Levy says, adding, “A modern take on the monogram might also just be a single first or last initial with design elements … to add interest.”
How to Use Monograms in Your Home Décor
The possibilities for monograms in the home are endless, but Levy has a few tried-and-true ways to incorporate them without going overboard—after all, tagging every bit of your home décor can appear overwhelming.
“The simplest way to work your monogram in to your home décor is through linens. Think towels, cloth napkins, bedding and blankets,” she says. If you love the look, consider taking the trend a step further with engraved glassware, silver or even embroidered chair backs or other upholstered pieces, Levy advises.
Jarret Yoshida, an interior design expert based in New York City and repeated winner of Best of Houzz award, also says to consider unexpected materials and details when it comes to monogrammed home décor: “Embossed leather, engraved metal, painted ceramics, subtle stitching contrasts to the background material—these are all some of my favorite ways to [monogram],” says Yoshida.
Monograms for Pets
Now that you know how to stylishly monogram your own home goods, it’s time to discuss adding monograms to your pet’s part of the domain, too. Is it a little, well, extra? Not in our book!
“We do think of our pets as family, so it’s only natural we should extend the monogram trend to them as well,” says Levy.
Don’t know where to start? Think about the items in your home you’ve monogrammed with your own initials and go from there. Are your sheets embroidered with your monogram, or do you have a set of wine glasses bearing your initials? “Consider customizing a monogrammed dog, or perhaps a blanket they use when laying on the sofa or other furniture,” Levy suggests. “Adding their initials to their food and water bowls or the placemat used underneath them is also a fun touch. Like to hang your collars and leashes? Consider finding a letter hook in your pet’s initial for those items.”
The monogramming rule of thumb still stands here though: Remember not to overdo it. Monogramming everything you’ve ever bought your pet can overwhelm the eye (not to mention, clash with your own thoughtfully initialed items!). According to Levy, adding your pet’s name or initials to just a few everyday items is an easy and fun way to add a little personality to their belongings and help tie them into your own aesthetic.
Some of Our Favorite Monogrammable Goodies for Pets
We picked out a few of our favorite pet items to monogram—from blankets and beds to food bowls—and got feedback from our interior designers on why they love them, too.
Frisco Personalized Preppy Stripes Ceramic Dog Bowl
Yoshida loves this ceramic dog bowl, calling it “so chic,” and yet, “subtle.” The stripping design is cool and contemporary, and you can customize the hue, as well as the name emblazoned.
Frisco Personalized Boho Damask Ceramic Dog & Cat Bowl
If your home’s aesthetic leans boho (i.e. you love blending natural elements and unique pieces with a mix of colors and patterns), consider complementing it with this ceramic pet bowl that touts a boho-chic pattern.
Frisco Personalized Faux Linen Dog & Cat Blanket
“If you have a dog, you inevitably have a dog blanket—or in my case many, many dog blankets!” says Levy. “A personalized blanket is a great way to work a monogram into your home and also makes a wonderful gift.”
Carolina Pet Personalized Memory Foam Classic Canvas Rectangle Jamison Dog Bed
With its canvas cover and contrast piping, this memory foam-padded bed boasts a clean, simple style that’s fit for minimalist homes, according to Levy.
3 Dog Pet Supply Personalized EZ Wash Premium Orthopedic Bolster Dog Bed
“This houndstooth-esque fabric with a monogram would work seamlessly into a traditional home,” says Levy. Your fur baby is also bound to love this monogrammed dog bed for its oversized headrest and high-density memory foam.
The DOs and DON’Ts of Monograms
When you’re ready to start monogramming, Levy has a final few DOs and DON’Ts to share:
- DO space monogrammed items out throughout your home, instead of focusing one specific room.
- DON’T overdo it. Less is definitely more here. A few well-placed monograms will make a big impact. The key is to have the monogram be a special moment, not something that bombards you every which way you look.
- DO try to have some fun with the style and color. Traditional fonts with more contemporary color palettes make for a fun and unexpected look. Likewise, a modern font in a simple, neutral palette makes for a truly striking monogram.
- DON’T get hung up on following the “rules” for monograms (like what letter should traditionally be the middle). A monogram is meant to be unique to you (and, in this case, your pet), so do what makes you and your fur fam happy.
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