Making Your Lyrics Poster Actually Look Good (Design Tips)
You don't need to be a designer to make a lyrics poster that looks good. You just need to avoid a few common mistakes and follow some basic rules.
I see a lot of lyrics posters where someone clearly had a good idea but the execution made it look like a school project. Let me help you avoid that.
Rule #1: Less Is More
This is the biggest mistake people make. They try to fit the entire song on one poster.
Don't.
Pick your favorite verse, or just the chorus, or even just one line that hits you. A poster with one perfect line looks way better than a poster crammed with tiny text.
Think about it - when you look at the poster from across the room, what do you want to see? One powerful line you can actually read, or a wall of text that looks like fine print?
Color Choices (Keep It Simple)
Here's the easy formula:
- Black text on white background = always works, never goes wrong
- White text on dark background = also always works, more modern
- Two colors max = pick one for background, one for text, done
Want to get fancy? Fine:
- Use colors that match your room
- Or colors from the album cover
- Or colors that match a photo (if you're doing a wedding photo lyrics thing)
But seriously, black and white is perfectly fine. Stop overthinking it.
Fonts Matter (But Not That Much)
You don't need 47 different fonts. Pick one, maybe two max.
For the main lyrics: Use something clean and readable. Sans-serif fonts (like Arial, Helvetica, or similar) look modern. Serif fonts (like Times or Georgia) look more classic.
For song/artist names: You can use a different font here, but it should complement the main one, not fight with it.
Fonts to avoid:
- Comic Sans (obviously)
- Anything that looks like handwriting unless you're going for that vibe
- Fonts where you have to squint to read them
- More than 2 different fonts total
If you're using a lyrics poster maker, they usually have good font combinations already picked. Just use those.
Layout Tricks That Work
Center alignment = classic, safe, works for everything
Left alignment = more modern, good for longer lyrics
Mix it up = song title centered, lyrics left-aligned, artist name smaller at bottom
The main thing: be consistent. Don't center some lines and left-align others randomly. Pick one approach and stick with it.
Adding Extra Elements
You can add stuff besides just text, but do it carefully:
Good additions:
- Small line or decorative element between sections
- The date (anniversary, wedding date, etc.)
- Album cover as a small accent
- Simple border or frame design
Bad additions:
- Random clip art
- Too many decorative swooshes or flourishes
- Watermarks or signatures that distract
- Anything that makes the text harder to read
Your lyrics art should still be about the lyrics. Everything else is just supporting it.
The Spacing Thing
This is subtle but it matters:
Line spacing - Don't cram lines together. Give them room to breathe. But not too much room or it looks disconnected.
Margins - Leave empty space around the edges. Text shouldn't go right to the edge of the poster.
Letter spacing - Usually the default is fine, but sometimes spreading letters out just a tiny bit looks more elegant.
Most design tools do this automatically pretty well. Just don't mess with it too much.
Size and Shape
Vertical (portrait) works better for:
- Full verses
- Longer song titles
- Traditional wall art
Horizontal (landscape) works better for:
- Single lines
- Short choruses
- Above furniture or beds
Square works for:
- Instagram-style art
- Modern gallery walls
- When you're not sure which way to go
Pick based on where you're hanging it and how much text you have.
Making It Personal Without Making It Cluttered
You want to add the date, names, location, whatever - but don't overload it.
Good approach:
- Main lyrics (big)
- Song and artist (medium, at bottom)
- Date or names (small, subtle)
Bad approach:
- Everything the same size competing for attention
Think hierarchy. What's most important? Make that biggest. Everything else supports it.
Template vs. Custom Design
Using a template from a lyrics card maker isn't cheating. It's smart.
Templates are made by actual designers who understand this stuff. They've already done the hard work of picking fonts, spacing, colors.
Your job is just picking the right template for your song and maybe adjusting colors to match your style.
Custom design is only worth it if you actually enjoy designing or have very specific needs.
The Phone Test
Before you print anything, look at it on your phone.
If you can't read it clearly on a phone screen, it won't look good printed either. Even though it'll be bigger when printed, if the design doesn't work small, it's not a strong design.
Also check it in black and white. If it still looks good with no color, you've got a solid design.
Common Design Mistakes to Avoid
Too many fonts - Pick 1-2, stick with them
Text too small - If you have to squint, it's too small
Not enough contrast - Light gray text on white background = nobody can read it
Everything centered and bold - Looks like you're yelling
Random font sizes - Be intentional about hierarchy
Ignoring the format - Design for the size you're actually printing
When to Use Different Styles
Minimalist (simple, lots of white space):
- Good for modern homes
- Good for powerful single lines
- Works with any decor
Vintage (aged paper look, classic fonts):
- Good for old songs
- Good for rustic/farmhouse style
- Feels nostalgic
Bold/Modern (strong colors, sans-serif fonts):
- Good for pop songs
- Good for contemporary spaces
- Feels energetic
Elegant (script fonts, decorative elements):
- Good for weddings
- Good for romantic songs
- Feels special-occasion
Match your design style to both the song and where it's going.
The Album Cover Method
If you're stuck on design, just copy the vibe of the album cover.
Making an album cover art poster? Use similar colors and font styles as the original album. It'll automatically look cohesive.
You don't have to copy exactly, just get inspired by the mood.
For Special Occasions
Birthday: Use bright colors, fun fonts, upbeat song choices. Check out birthday song poster ideas for inspiration.
Wedding: Keep it elegant, classic fonts, romantic colors. See wedding lyrics options.
Anniversary: Can be romantic or personal inside jokes work too. Browse anniversary designs.
Baby: Soft colors, gentle fonts, sweet songs. Look at baby birth song options.
The occasion should influence the design style.
Final Check Before Printing
Before you hit print, ask yourself:
- Can I read everything clearly?
- Does it look balanced (not too heavy on one side)?
- Is there enough white space?
- Do the colors work together?
- Would I actually hang this on my wall?
If yes to all, you're good to go.
Just Start Simple
Look, if you're overwhelmed, just do this:
- Pick one line from the song
- Use black text on white background
- Use one clean font
- Center it
- Add the song and artist name smaller at the bottom
That's it. That will look good. You can get fancier later.
Ready to design your poster? Start with our song quote poster maker or browse pre-made templates that follow these design principles.