Create a House of Faith

Written by Jeanne Winters

Decorating your home with scripture can help grow your faith and the faith of those around you. The more visible God’s Word is in your home the more often it can speak to, comfort, and strengthen you. Romans 10:17 states “… faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

Christian décor can not only help draw your family closer to God, but it can be a witnessing tool. For example, the simple, hand-lettered “faith • hope • love” that I painted over my own breakfast room has become a conversation piece, opening the door to spiritual discussions with guests.

Here are three ways to add scripture to your home:

1. The painted Word

With a little paint and time, you can inexpensively accent any room with a Bible verse or phrase. The space above a doorway, window, or chair rail is a good place to start. Select a verse and typestyle appropriate to the room and scale it to be easily read.

Paint freehand or:

• Print your phrase actual size from your computer. Use a pencil and tracing paper to create an outline of the letters on your wall.
• Buy alphabet stencils from a local hardware or craft store.
• Order a custom stencil – your complete verse can be typeset according to your wishes. Many online companies provide custom service.

2. The crafted Word

Before you begin your next scrapbook, cross-stitch, embroidery, quilting, decoupage, mosaic or painting project, select a pattern or idea that includes (or can be modified to include) scripture.

Note: If you don’t have a craft, but enjoy visiting art and craft fairs, feel free to approach an artisan about doing a custom piece. You may even have a chance to share your faith!

Enjoying renewed popularity, decoupage is a no-skills-required crafting technique. It simply involves gluing printed materials – pictures or words – to a surface.

Tip: Save your Christian greeting cards, calendars and wrapping paper! Decoupage medium comes with specific instructions and is available at any craft store.

Decoupage projects to try:

• Child’s trinket box. Cover a petite container with Bible verses and photos of favorite things: butterflies, sports, hearts, etc.
• Picture frame. Give an old frame new life with a color scheme that suits your new room.
• Lampshade. Cover a small shade to truly illuminate the scriptures!

3. The framed Word

Wall art plays an important role in every room. While there are many beautiful works by Christian artists that incorporate scripture within the art or matting, you can also create your own masterpiece:

• Worship music. Sheet music of hymns in the public domain can be reproduced on beautiful parchment paper or tea stained for unique wall accents.
• Sunday school art. When professionally matted and framed, your child’s project will reach new heights. To create a large wall piece, use a wide, double matte.
• Calligraphy & nature. Surround hand inked or computer typeset Bible passages with pressed ferns, flowers, or leaves and secure under glass.

The next time you think about adding to or changing a room in your home, consider making God’s Word a part of it. As He tells us in Deuteronomy 6:6,9, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”