When choosing a personalized chest, you naturally think about what it will hold. But for a personalized chest, the size of the piece also matters for the name, word or symbols you'd like to see on it.
At Beldi Sélection, we personalize every chest by hand in our workshop in Marrakech. Order after order, we've learned that the same personalization doesn't work the same way on a small chest as on an XL.
It's not simply about fitting in as many letters as possible. It's about finding the right balance between the size of the chest, the length of the name, the chosen lettering style and any symbols.
So here are our guidelines for choosing the size of your chest based on the personalization you have in mind.
The size of the chest matters for the personalization too
The letters we make are a fairly standard size so they stay harmonious across the different models. We can, however, adjust them slightly depending on the name and the space available.
A very wide "M" and a very thin "I" obviously don't take up the same space. The chosen lettering style also affects how much room is needed.
That's why we always look at the personalization as a whole: the length of the name, the lettering style, any symbols and the size of the chest.
The goal isn't to shrink the letters until everything fits, but to find the best balance so the personalization stays beautiful and well proportioned.
Size S chest: initials and small symbols
The S chest is ideal for a very simple personalization.
It can carry one or two initials, or simply a small symbol. That could be a heart, a star, a teddy bear, a cloud, a flower or another small motif.
The symbols are crocheted too, just like the letters.
The S is therefore perfect for a discreet personalization, without needing to spell out a full name.
Size M chest: a short name or word
On an M chest, we generally recommend a name or short word of up to about 5 letters.
This isn't a strict technical limit, but rather an aesthetic guideline. Beyond that, the letters may end up too close together and the personalization can look cramped.
It's also on this size that small details can make all the difference. For example, if there isn't enough room to add a heart at the end of a name, we can sometimes place it right on the "i".
This kind of adjustment is possible on every size and is decided case by case.
Size L chest: a name or a word
The L chest allows for a larger personalization.
It can hold a full name or word, with no need to stick to a precise number of letters. Most names and words naturally find their place on this model.
The length of the name, the lettering style and any symbols are simply taken into account to keep a nice proportion with the chest.
If a name is particularly long, or if a personalization includes several elements, we can also think about a different layout.
Size XL chest: one or two personalizations, depending on your project
The XL is the model that offers the most freedom for personalization.
It can of course hold a single name or word, but it's also especially well suited to double-barrelled names or two names.
It's a solution we suggest in particular for:
- twins;
- a brother and sister;
- two children in the same family;
- or simply when a family prefers one large chest rather than two chests in a room.
The two names can be placed on the same line. They can also be joined by a small heart instead of the traditional "&", an option that's especially popular for personalizations made for little girls.
The XL also gives more space when a name is long, which usually gives a more balanced, less cramped result.
Which lettering style should you choose?
At Beldi Sélection, we offer five different lettering styles for personalizing our chests.
But these choices aren't limits: if there's a particular handwriting you love, you can also send us an example. We can use it as inspiration for your personalization.
Every lettering style can be made on every chest size. We simply adapt the layout when needed.
Our experience lets us take into account the differences between letters. A name made of wide letters won't take up the same space as a name with lots of thin letters.
The idea is always to keep lettering that is legible and in harmony with the piece.
What if you'd rather have a symbol than a name?
Personalization doesn't necessarily mean spelling out a name.
On a small chest, one or two initials can be paired with a symbol, but a symbol can also replace the name entirely.
Heart, star, teddy bear, cloud, flower… these small motifs are crocheted and can bring a very gentle touch to the chest.
They can also be combined with a name or initials.
46 wool colors… and even blends
The color of the personalization is entirely up to you.
We currently offer 46 wool colors, so you can choose a shade to match the chest, the room or simply your taste.
You can also mix colors.
For example, each letter of the same name can be made in a different color for a more playful result. We can also blend several shades directly in the crochet for a heathered effect.
If you're torn between several colors, we're happy to advise you based on the color of the chest and the look you're after.
What if a name is long?
For each model, we give personalization guidelines so that a name doesn't end up too tight.
For example, for an M, we recommend about 5 letters maximum. If a request needs a special adjustment, we talk directly with the customer before making the personalization.
Depending on the project, several solutions are possible: choosing a larger chest, slightly adjusting the size of the letters, changing their layout, or sometimes making the personalization on two lines.
So there isn't just one rule.
We look at each request case by case to find the most harmonious solution.
It's also what allows us to suggest small details you might not think of when ordering. If, for example, a name is a little too tight to add a heart at the end, we can sometimes place the heart on the "i".
These are small adjustments, but they can really change the balance of a personalization.
A quick table to help you choose
| Size | Recommended personalization |
|---|---|
| S | 1 or 2 initials · 1 symbol |
| M | A short word or name of up to about 5 letters |
| L | A name or a word |
| XL | A name, a word, a double-barrelled name or 2 names |
These are aesthetic guidelines, not strict rules. Depending on the name, the lettering style and any symbols, we can adjust the layout or the size of the letters.
A chest is also chosen for its personalization
So the size of a personalized chest isn't chosen only for what it can hold. It's also chosen for what you'd like to have on it.
A long name will often look more balanced on a large chest, while one or two initials can fit perfectly on a small one.
And when a personalization falls a little outside the usual formats, we simply work with you to find the most harmonious solution.
At Beldi Sélection, every name, every word and every symbol is prepared especially for your piece in our workshop in Marrakech.
Because a beautiful personalization isn't just about adding a name: it's also about finding the right place, the right proportion and the small details that make the whole thing truly work.