Choosing the Shape of a Wooden Nameplate | Square, Rectangle, Round, Hexagon, Octagon
Choosing a Shape — Start From the Location and the Name
When you are unsure which shape to choose, it helps to think about three things first: where you will mount it, how many characters the name has, and how it looks against the wall. Here we introduce the five shapes we offer — square, rectangle, round, hexagon, and octagon — along with how each suits a home. You can preview the finished design in the nameplate simulator.
Square
With equal width and height, a square fits neatly on almost any wall surface. Set on a gate post or as a single accent on a wall, it looks well balanced. A square suits names of roughly two to four characters and works with both vertical and horizontal writing. For longer names, the rectangle below gives more room.
Even within the square, the surface finish changes the impression. Alongside the flat Square, there is Naguri with a naguri-style carved texture, and Ishigaki carved with a random, stone-wall-like relief.
Rectangular
Because it is longer horizontally, a rectangle keeps a family name readable when set out in a horizontal line. It suits longer names, or names with romanized letters added. The horizontal shape comes in three types, each with a different character.
Rectangle uses the silver ratio (1:√2, a proportion long favored in Japan), here shown as roughly 1:1.4. You can order the board in either portrait or landscape orientation, so it fits the vertical line of a gate post as well as the horizontal space beside a mailbox.
Trad is 25mm thick, with chamfered edges that add a sense of depth. It draws on the presence of fine wood, suiting a gate post that calls for a solid, dignified look. Like Rectangle, the board can be ordered in portrait or landscape orientation.
Plate is kept slim at 11mm thick. It can be mounted with household double-sided tape, so it also suits the door side of an apartment or shared building where you cannot drill holes.
Round
With no corners, a round outline settles softly onto a wall. It leaves room around the edge, so as a single accent by the entrance it reads as tidy and cohesive. A round shape pairs well with shorter names, set cleanly in the center. The edges are finished with a chamfer, which gives a simple shape a sense of depth. A round wooden nameplate is also an uncommon shape for a wooden nameplate.
Hexagon
The hexagon keeps the composed feel of a square while easing the pressure of its corners. With more straight edges, the outline stays clean and settles well against a modern facade or a tiled or concrete entrance. The edges are chamfered, giving a depth that a plainly cut board does not have. It is an uncommon shape for a wooden nameplate. The hexagon is also the hexagonal kikko pattern long familiar in Japan. For more on this shape, see our article on the hexagonal wooden nameplate ROKU.
Octagon
The octagon takes a square and cuts off its corners, giving a soft impression somewhere between round and square. It suits anyone who wants to avoid sharp corners, or an entrance where you want the warmth of wood to read gently. The chamfered edges carry a sense of depth even viewed head-on. Not as soft as a round shape and not as hard as a square, its middle ground settles easily into both Western and Japanese exteriors. For more, see our article on the octagonal wooden nameplate HACHI.
Consider the Wood and the Mounted Look Too
Once the shape is decided, the next choice is the wood. Japanese zelkova (keyaki), walnut, maple, and cherry each vary in grain and color. The differences between woods and our workshop's selection standards are covered in How to Choose the Wood for a Nameplate. If you are unsure which model to pick, Choosing a Model in the Simulator can help, and to check how it will look after mounting, see Checking the Installed Image.
The simulator preview is a rendering of the finished piece. After you order, we email you the actual design data to review — production begins only once you approve it, so you can order with confidence even for the first time.