9 ideas for house numbers that go BOOM

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Source: realsimple.com via Offbeat Home on Pinterest
Source: realsimple.com via Offbeat Home on Pinterest
You wouldn’t believe the amount of questions I’ve gotten about house numbers! I guess I’m not surprised — they’re an easy way to change up your house, but when you head to the hardware store you get, like, four choices for house numbers and they’re all pretty blah. Here are non-blah makeable and buyable ideas for displaying your house — or maybe apartment? — number.

I really, really, love this idea of house numbers as a sculptural element. $185 per digit from curranonline.com. I don’t have an idea for making these suckers, but I’m open to suggestions!

Source: 100kmom.blogspot.com via Offbeat Home on Pinterest
Source: 100kmom.blogspot.com via Offbeat Home on Pinterest

Vinyl house numbers. Vinyl is NOT expensive to get custom-cut from a sign shop — and if you’re really feeling lazy you can totally get the sign shop to come install your new address, too. You could do any font, any size — it’s a super flexible medium.

industrial hammered house numbersAwesome industrial, hammered house numbers are easy to install.

Making threaded house numbers is simple, but looks complex. The thread might get ookie after a while, but then you just take it down and re-thread. Ooh! Ooh! OR you could use this rad fluorescent twine! Here’s how you make these house numbers.

Lucky Number Decorative Linen Pillows Case
Lucky Number Decorative Linen Pillows Case

Have a front porch? Make throw pillows with your address on them and multitask!

Source: housewifingonabudget.blogspot.com via Offbeat Home on Pinterest
Source: housewifingonabudget.blogspot.com via Offbeat Home on Pinterest

Another seasonal/temporary/no-damage solution to house numbers — use a wreath. You could use the same wreath over and over, or make one for each season.

Unique Arts Solar Mailbox with House Number, Stainless Steel
Unique Arts Solar Mailbox with House Number, Stainless Steel

Not gonna lie, I love an eco-friendly lighted number option that also collects your mail.

Atlas Homewares Twig House Numbers
Atlas Homewares Twig House Numbers

Speaking of eco-friendly, nature-lovers will adore these twig house numbers!

Source: etsy.com via Offbeat Home on Pinterest
Source: etsy.com via Offbeat Home on Pinterest

Cut metal house numbers. This one’s from Etsy and looks close to a lot of the high-design jobbies flying around. It’d be easy to reproduce with the help of your local iron working shop. What? Doesn’t everyone have one of those down the street?

We’ve got more house number ideas and products over on Pinterest. Check it.

Comments on 9 ideas for house numbers that go BOOM

  1. As a delivery driver, I implore everyone who ever orders pizza to please utilize at least one visible-from-the-street-at-night house numbering system. My job would be so much easier if GIANT NUMBERS became popular!

    • Yeah. The point of house numbers is for your house to be found, especially in an emergency. I would be concerned about that with the pillows and wreath, if that was the only numbering. Are people who need to find your place going to know what those pillows or even the cute sculpture numbers mean?

      I love the plate idea!

  2. I love the nails that is so cool! And the plates are cool too. I never thought of doing something and making my apt number as a decorative statement. Interesting…

  3. The purpose of house numbers is NOT looking cool. I’m in ambulance service and we hate overly-creative numbers. They could cost your life. PLEASE do install a number plate that is

    1. visible from the street
    2. good in contrast (black / white)
    3. lit at night, and more important: lit all night
    4. at least 20 x 20 cm
    5. not overly ornamental, plain numbers should do.

    Thank you.

    • I agree about safety first, but I see these decorative/fancy/creative ones as almost more of a secondary way of displaying your address. Ours is on our mailbox which is at the street. It’s numbers are bold, plain, reflective numbers so easy for the ambulance to see. Then maybe I could hang the numbered plates on my house, or have the cinder blocks painted with the numbers in my yard, or the pillows on my porch in addition to the safe, easy to read from the street ones.

    • The number of houses without numbers is amazing to me. It would be nice if people had house numbers period. I think at least a few of these would certainly work for being visible. Mainly the HUGE ones. And #5441. I also like the last one as it would be placed by the curb which would increase visibility. Maybe in a lighter/brighter color though.

    • I’m also in public safety…I really hate the houses where they bought the fancy scroll numbers that spell out, “Four Hundred and Seventy Seven”. Don’t do that! Use regular numbers!

      • As I was knocking on doors for a campaign, I was complaining about how some of the houses did have numbers (isn’t that illegal??) and couldn’t figure out if the house we were at was correct. Took a step back, and there was the number, on the 2nd floor in 4 or 5 foot numbers. If only all house were like that.

  4. I’m all for decorative numbers, and have considered the spray on moss ones for when we build our front wall, but I have to agree that for safety and ease, having standard, highly visible numbers on the letterbox is a very good idea!

    I know when I’m looking for a friend’s house at night I look at the letterboxes for numbers, rather than anywhere else.

    I do love these ideas though! I also love these ones from ThinkGeek: http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/870f/

  5. I love the giant ones! As for the free-standing chunky number, what about those photography props they use for kid portraits with their age number? Would that be big enough?

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