diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4054187..5891e78 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ Resulting in:
 In the controller:
 ```ruby
 def create
-  @supplier = Supplier.new(supplier_params)
+  @supplier = Supplier.from_value(supplier_params)
   @supplier.save
 end
 
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ end
 
 1. [Installation](./docs/installation.md)
 2. StoreModel::Model API:
+  * [Instantiation](./docs/installation.md)
   * [Validations](./docs/validations.md)
   * [Enums](./docs/enums.md)
   * [Nested models](./docs/nested_models.md)
diff --git a/docs/instantiation.md b/docs/instantiation.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3b9b57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/instantiation.md
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+## Instantiation
+
+You can, of course, instantiate a store model object using `new`:
+```ruby
+class Configuration
+  include StoreModel::Model
+
+  attribute :model, :string
+  attribute :color, :string
+
+  validates :color, presence: true
+end
+
+config = Configuration.new(model: "spaceship", color: "red")
+```
+
+However, the instance will not have all of the behavior that an instance of a store model
+"type" would have. For instance, instantiating with `new` will raise errors when unknown
+attributes are passed, rather than providing the [Unknown attributes](./unknown_attributes.md) behavior.
+
+Store model "types" are what are assigned to `attribute` definitions in ActiveModel classes.
+
+E.g.:
+```ruby
+class Product < ApplicationRecord
+  attribute :configuration, Configuration.to_type
+end
+```
+
+If you want to instantiate not just a store model class, but the associated type, you can use
+the `from_value` class method:
+```ruby
+config = Configuration.from_value(model: "spaceship", color: "red", some_other_attribute: "foo")
+```
+
+Similarly, if you want to instantiate an array of store model objects, you can use `from_values`:
+```ruby
+configs = Configuration.from_values([
+  {model: "spaceship", color: "red", some_other_attribute: "foo"},
+  {model: "car", color: "blue", some_other_attribute: "bar"}
+])
+```
+
+These methods are shorthand for
+```ruby
+Configuration.to_type.cast_value(value)
+```
+and
+```ruby
+Configuration.to_array_type.cast_value(values)
+```
+respectively.
diff --git a/lib/store_model/model.rb b/lib/store_model/model.rb
index cd082a2..d3081ca 100644
--- a/lib/store_model/model.rb
+++ b/lib/store_model/model.rb
@@ -19,6 +19,19 @@ def self.included(base) # :nodoc:
       base.extend StoreModel::TypeBuilders
 
       base.attribute_method_suffix "?"
+
+      base.extend(ClassMethods)
+    end
+
+    # Class methods for StoreModel::Model
+    module ClassMethods
+      def from_value(value)
+        to_type.cast_value(value)
+      end
+
+      def from_values(values)
+        to_array_type.cast_value(values)
+      end
     end
 
     attr_accessor :parent
diff --git a/spec/store_model/model_spec.rb b/spec/store_model/model_spec.rb
index 19a726d..227fa4b 100644
--- a/spec/store_model/model_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/store_model/model_spec.rb
@@ -14,6 +14,24 @@
     }
   end
 
+  describe ".from_value" do
+    context "when unknown attributes are provided" do
+      it "adds unknown attributes" do
+        config = Configuration.from_value(attributes.merge(foo: "bar"))
+        expect(config.unknown_attributes).to include("foo" => "bar")
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe ".from_values" do
+    context "when unknown attributes are provided" do
+      it "adds unknown attributes" do
+        config = Configuration.from_values([attributes.merge(foo: "bar")])
+        expect(config[0].unknown_attributes).to include("foo" => "bar")
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "#initialize" do
     context "when symbolized hash is passed" do
       subject { Configuration.new(attributes) }