Transforming your living space with unique, personalized touches can be incredibly rewarding. If you’ve ever admired the charming aesthetic of French enameled signs – whether the classic blue and white or other vibrant color combinations – but wished you could tailor one to your exact needs, then you’re in the right place. This comprehensive, easy-to-follow tutorial will guide you through creating your very own custom faux French enameled signs, allowing you to infuse your home with distinctive character and style.
My personal approach to home decor has always leaned towards the bespoke. When I can’t find the perfect piece that aligns with my vision, I simply create it. This DIY philosophy proved invaluable when I sought to add personality to what I affectionately call the “hallway-of-darkness.” This narrow space demanded a decorative element that wouldn’t obstruct the flow but would still make a significant stylistic impact. Custom signage was the ideal solution.
This particular hallway presents a design challenge with its multitude of doors: four standard 6-paneled doors and two louvered doors leading to the laundry area. The sheer number of doors sparked a creative idea: why not label them? Not only would it add a touch of whimsy and organization, but it would also enhance the corridor’s aesthetic.
This evocative image perfectly captures the essence of the French enameled sign style I was so eager to replicate. The clean lines, classic font, and rustic charm are truly inspiring.
While a sign reading “TOILETTE” might occasionally surface in vintage shops or online, the likelihood of finding signs perfectly labeled “CHINA,” “GARAGE,” or “PARTY” was virtually nonexistent. This realization solidified my decision to embark on a DIY journey.
And so, I created them myself. I had gathered all the necessary supplies months prior, and during a stretch of leisurely downtime, I discovered this project was surprisingly quick and enjoyable, perfect for crafting outdoors while savoring the pleasant weather.
Capturing a perfect photograph of the hallway remains a challenge due to its narrow dimensions and the significant light obstruction originating from the adjacent kitchen area.
This row of kitchen cabinets, while practical for storage, casts a shadow. While I occasionally contemplate their removal, their utility in keeping kitchen essentials organized has become a welcome fixture in our home.
For the four 6-paneled doors in the hallway, I assigned a specific label reflecting the room or area behind each one, adding clarity and a charming, organized touch.
One sign proudly points to the garage, a daily convenience transformed into a decorative feature.
Another identifies the China Closet. In the absence of a formal dining room, this closet has become the dedicated home for cherished formal serving pieces and other treasured items, meticulously organized for easy access.
I previously undertook a makeover of this closet’s interior to better suit my storage needs. You can explore the full transformation and organization tips in this detailed post: Small Closet Makeover.
Directly opposite the China closet is an identical one, which I’ve designated as the Party closet. While its interior reorganization is slated for the fall, this space is rapidly becoming a hub for entertaining essentials. If you recall my previous post about setting up a Party tote, you’ll know this concept perfectly aligns with my evolving entertaining strategy.
Finally, the last door grants access to our powder room, a space we beautifully renovated last year. It now proudly bears the elegant label “Toilette.”
What I cherish most about these handmade faux French enameled signs is their authenticity. They are uniquely mine, imperfections and all. My decorating philosophy isn’t about achieving flawless perfection, but rather about surrounding myself with items that bring joy and evoke a comforting sense of home. Crafting these pieces myself, rather than relying on mass-produced items, ensures my surroundings are distinctively unique and perfectly aligned with my personal style and aesthetic.
How to Create Your Own Faux French Enameled Signs: A Step-by-Step Guide
Embrace your inner artisan and craft beautiful, personalized door signs that mimic the charm of vintage French enamelware. This DIY project is surprisingly simple and yields impressive results.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Craft Wood Plaque: A 12″ x 3-1/4″ x 1″ piece is ideal, offering a sturdy base for your sign.
- Paint: Choose a base color (I used white chalk paint for its matte finish and excellent adhesion) and a contrasting color for lettering (Mineral Fusion Paint in Liberty Blue provides that classic French look).
- Paintbrushes: A wider brush for applying the base coat evenly and a fine-tipped brush for precise lettering work.
- Sandpaper: Fine-grit sandpaper (around 100 grit) for smoothing edges and creating a gently aged finish.
- Graphite Transfer Paper: Essential for accurately transferring your chosen typography onto the wood.
- Ruler: For precise measurements and straight lines, especially if adding a border.
- 3M Command Hanging Strips: Opt for the flat-style strips for a secure, damage-free hanging solution (avoid hook-and-loop versions for this project).
- Drill and Drill Bit: A small drill bit (matching your nailhead size) for pre-drilling holes for decorative accents.
- Silver Nailheads: Two per sign to emulate the authentic enameled sign look.
- Tacky Glue: For securing any loose nailheads.
- Pencil: For tracing and marking.
- Jigsaw: If you plan to cut custom shapes for your signs.
- Optional: Permanent markers in your lettering color (for an alternative to paint) and a clear ruler (for clean lines with markers).
I utilized the elegant and freely available Pottery Barn font for all my sign lettering, which perfectly captures the desired aesthetic. You can access this font via this link: Pottery Barn font.
To help you get started, I’ve prepared downloadable PDF templates for the words and shapes I used on my door signs. Simply click to save them to your computer and use them as a guide:
CHINA | PARTY | TOILETTE| GARAGE
- Prepare Your Wood Plaque: You have the option to maintain a classic rectangular shape for your signs or introduce a more unique silhouette. If you prefer a custom shape, select one of the provided PDF templates. Carefully use a pencil to trace the desired outline onto your craft wood. Then, with a jigsaw, meticulously cut out the shape. Once the basic form is ready, use a drill with a small bit to create pilot holes at each end of the plaque where your decorative nailheads will be placed. These pilot holes ensure easy and neat insertion of the nailheads later.
2. Print Your Lettering: Using your computer and printer, create the words you wish to feature on your sign(s) in your chosen font (like the Pottery Barn font mentioned earlier). Print them out, ensuring they are sized appropriately for your wooden plaque. Carefully cut out each word, leaving a small margin around the text.
3. Apply Base Coat: Using a wide paintbrush, apply two even coats of white chalk paint to your wooden board. Chalk paint is excellent for this project as it typically requires no priming and provides a beautiful, matte finish. Allow each coat to dry completely according to the manufacturer’s instructions before applying the next. This ensures a smooth, opaque base for your lettering.
4. Transfer Lettering with Graphite Paper: Once your base coat is thoroughly dry, it’s time to transfer your lettering. Place a piece of graphite transfer paper face down onto your painted board. Next, position your printed word cutout directly on top of the graphite paper, ensuring it is perfectly straight and centered on your sign. Secure both the graphite paper and the printout to the wood using painter’s tape to prevent any shifting during the transfer process.
5. Trace the Letters: With a pencil, carefully trace over the outlines of the lettering on your printout. Apply firm but consistent pressure to ensure the graphite transfers clearly onto the wood. When you remove the printout and graphite paper, you should see the faint but distinct outlines of your letters on the sign, much like the “Garage” sign in the photo above.
PRO TIP: If any unwanted graphite smudges appear, a cotton ball lightly dabbed with rubbing alcohol can effectively remove them without damaging your paint.
6. Paint the Lettering: Using your chosen craft paint (like Fusion Mineral Paint) and a very fine-tipped paintbrush, meticulously fill in the transferred lettering. Take your time to achieve crisp, clean lines. You may need to apply two thin coats for full opacity, allowing each coat to dry between applications.
7. Marker Alternative for Lettering: As an alternative to paint, you can use a permanent marker in your desired lettering color to fill in the transferred outlines. This method can offer more control for some crafters. If you choose to add a border, use a clear ruler to ensure straight, clean lines. Important: If you plan to seal your sign with clear wax after using a marker, ensure the marker ink is completely dry before applying the sealant to prevent smearing.
8. Subtle Aging (Optional): To give the signs a perfectly imperfect, handmade, and gently aged character, I lightly went over each sign with 100-grit sandpaper. This step isn’t about creating obvious damage, but rather subtly softening the edges and making any slight imperfections part of the sign’s unique charm, contributing to that desirable vintage look.
9. Seal and Protect Your Signs: Once the paint is fully dry and you’ve achieved your desired distressed look, it’s crucial to seal your signs for durability. Apply a thin, even coat of Johnson’s Paste Wax (or any soft furniture wax) using a piece of an old t-shirt. Rub the wax into the surface, then buff it gently to bring out a soft, elegant sheen. Alternatively, a water-based Minwax Polycrylic can be used for a more robust, clear protective finish. This step safeguards your beautiful artwork for years to come.
To Hang Your Signs: I opted for Command Brand hanging strips for their ease of use and ability to secure the signs without damaging the door surface. The silver nailheads, while visually appealing and completing the French enameled look, are purely decorative and do not bear any structural weight in hanging the signs.
To secure the decorative nailheads, I simply inserted them into the pilot holes I pre-drilled earlier. For any nailheads that felt a little loose, a tiny dab of Tacky Glue ensured they stayed firmly in place, adding to the finished, professional appearance of each sign.
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If the charm of French enameled signs captivates you, you might also be interested in a similar project where I created numbered metal tags that truly capture that authentic enamel look. Explore the detailed tutorial here: French Enameled Number Tags.
Ever wished your handwriting possessed a more elegant flair? Achieving prettier penmanship might be simpler than you imagine. Discover tips and tricks in this insightful post: How You Can Have Prettier Handwriting.
For more creative projects demonstrating the versatility of graphite paper for transferring typography onto various surfaces, including furniture, delve into this helpful guide: How to Transfer Typography To Wood Furniture.
