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, which reflects the home owner’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, Panchatatva.
See also: Vastu Shastra tips for the main door/entrance
See also about: led name plate for home
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 family members must resonate with the energy the name draws. Make sure the house name is unique and not used by any neighbour.
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, colours for the nameplate should be chosen, as per its direction. For example, east-facing homes should have name plates designed with brown or green colours.
When choosing name plate design, it is essential that you ensure that the colour of the name plate matches with 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, home owners 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 plate
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.
See also: All about the significance and meaning of house number 3 as per numerology
- As per Vastu for name plate, the design chosen for the name plate, should blend well with the main door.
- The main door, as well as the name plate should be well-lit. If the lobby area of the house does not have enough light, then, brighten up the name plate with an external LED light of any warm colour. Avoid red-coloured lights.
- Always opt for good quality and water-proof materials for the name plate, especially if it is a villa or a bungalow, to ensure that it can withstand the monsoon season. Even the paint should withstand harsh natural environments. As the main door is opened and closed often, ensure that the name plate is be strong, or else, it may break soon.
- Use a name plate as well as lettering material which is resistant to corrosion.
- Ensure that the name plate is regularly cleaned and is dust free.
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.
See also: Is 8 a lucky number for house as per numerology?
Name plate for home: Direction and position of name plate 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.
What is the importance of name plate according to Vastu?
As per Vastu Shastra, a house entrance holds a 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.
See also: House number 4 : What does it signify in numerology?
Name plate for home: Personalised designs
Modern-day home owners 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.
See also: Personalised house warming invitation design ideas
Check out these beautiful home name plate design ideas:
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.
Source: Pinterest
See also: Gifts for house warming ceremony
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.
Source: Pinterest
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.
Source: Pinterest
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 knife. Installing background lights is yet another example of creative name plate ideas for home.
Source: Pinterest
You can also use a wooden plywood material to design a creative name plate with drawings and handpainted designs using acrylic colour.
See also: All about House gate design
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. So, 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 designs 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 looks 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 main gate available in steel. For choosing name plate designs for 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 lightning 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 symbolises 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.
FAQs
Where do you put name plates?
Name plates can be hung or affixed on the doors, or at the entrance of the society or house.
What is written on the name plate?
The general trend it to write one’s surname on the name plate. People have also started writing their complete name. Nowadays, many households write their family name and the names of all members, including children.
What is a name plate?
Besides identifying a house, a name plate is used to enhance the décor of a house and create a good first impression.
Which name plate is good as per Vastu?
According to Vastu, 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.
Which metal is best for name plate?
Stainless steel is one of the most popular choices for nameplates due to its extreme durability.
Which colour name plate is best for wooden doors?
For wooden main doors, a white name plate is the preferred choice in Vastu as it attracts positive energies and prosperity. Alternatively, a golden-coloured name plate is also a good option, as it looks elegant and signifies illumination.
Why is a name plate important in home?
According to Vastu principles, if your home does not have a nameplate on the gate, opportunities might pass you by. Additionally, a nameplate adds a welcoming touch to the entrance of your home.
(With inputs from Surbhi Gupta and Harini Balasubramanian)
Purnima Goswami Sharma is a freelance writer based in Mumbai, who has been contributing to various newspapers, magazines and portals for the last two decades. Besides being a research writer for various TV shows, she has been a visiting faculty at SNDT for Communication Skills. She hold a master’s degree in English Literature from Mumbai University and a diploma in Communications and Journalism. She writes on diverse subjects like real estate, interiors, education, lifestyle, health, entertainment and environment.
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