Today, decorative wall plaques come in all shapes, sizes, subjects, and styles.  While they are mostly used as accent pieces, decorative wall plaques are more useful than you might think.  Aside from creating impressions about your personal interests, they can also convey information that a stranger might want to know. Many people only think of decorative wall plaques in terms of awards or items meant to commemorate a special event.  While many people have worthwhile achievements in their lives, they also have other reasons for utilizing decorative wall plaques.  These include identification purposes, as well as purely artistic pursuits. If you work primarily in an office,  you may have a desk space saving decorative wall plaque with your name on it.  Not only does this simple item provide a means  for prospective visitors to know who you are, it may also define your position in the company.  In a similar way, businesses often make use of decorative wall plaques with their name and logos to adorn tradeshow booths, business suites, and entry foyers. Decorative wall plaques can also serve some important purposes in your home.   As an example, if you have a problem dog, you may want to put up a sign that tells visitors to beware.  On the other hand, you may prefer to use a decorative wall plaque that conveys this in a unique and personal way. Even if you run a yearly flea market or yard sale, decorative wall plaques in  prominent places can help draw attention to your items.  In particular, if your yard sale is dedicated to a specific theme, or type of memorabilia, a decorative wall plaque can help potential customers determine if they want to stop by and look or not.  This is especially useful if you want to catch the attention of an enthusiast that may not usually consider looking in a flea market for certain objects. Irregardless of where you live, personal items are what make a place yours.  Decorative wall plaques used as accent pieces can easily make a new, or unfamiliar room feel like you belong there.  Even if you decide to change the color of a room, putting your old decorative wall plaques back up will add a comforting feeling of familiarity. Finally, decorative wall plaques are also often used in cemeteries.  Among other things, the tombstones of veterans are often adorned with their name, the years that they served, and what war/conflict they took part in.  Over the years, a number of technologies have been developed to personalize tombstones.  Therefore, you might even see decorative wall plaques with pictures of the deceased affixed to the stone.  In some other instances, people will also place decorative wall plaques around the gravestone along with planted flowers and other items. Decorative wall plaques serve many  purposes in contemporary living.  In many cases, modern decorative wall plaques are often used for identification purposes.  That said, it is also important to realize these functional aspects are often combined with purely decorative ones to make charming and unique accent pieces.