Creating The Perfect Outdoor Space With A Neon Sign Outside
The installation of a neon sign outside can contribute to a unique and exciting vibe, and for businesses with outdoor spaces, this is a great opportunity. If you’re interested in adding a sense of style and sophistication to the outside area of your business, allowing you to entertain guests comfortably in a neon setting that can be hard to match, then you’ve come to the right place.
All over the world, neon is still found lighting up outdoor areas and helping to craft unique and unforgettable guest experiences. Neon can light up space in a way that draws people in, capturing the eye from a distance, attracting new patronage, and lifting the feel and mood of a place. In this article, we discuss how a neon sign outside can do wonders for outdoor entertainment spaces, from festival fields to restaurants and more.
Why Neon Signs Are Perfect For Outdoor Entertainment Spaces
Entertaining is no easy feat, whether it’s in a restaurant, at a festival, or during a live event. There are so many factors to consider, all of which play a part in your guest’s comfort and the curation of a sustainable, good time. The atmosphere, of course, is high up on this list, and neon signs are a great tool for setting a mood, sparking a feeling, matching a theme, and much more.
Any business with an outdoor entertainment or seating area should understand the importance of catching a guest’s eye and keeping them around. The cool, retro aesthetic of a neon sign outside gives the area more life while setting it apart from local competitors who have yet to achieve a flawless outdoor entertainment area. In the daylight and the evening, a neon sign outside stays visible and noticeable, maintaining the area’s exciting feel at all times.
The beauty of neon signage lies in its endless customisation and personalisation options, meaning your business can design a sign that fits right in with your restaurant or event’s theme or overall style and tone. The strong visual appeal and impact of neon signs, particularly in an outdoor setting, is unlike anything else. These signs help create a lively, welcoming atmosphere for your guests, serving as the perfect complement to your services, whether that’s live entertainment, good food, or anything else.
You can even customise neon signs, particularly LED neon signs, to change colours in accordance with the music that you’re playing or set certain colours to match certain seasons or specific events. The adaptable and versatile nature of neon means you can really stretch your creativity; consider your audience and what they would appreciate in terms of atmosphere and ambience, and use neon to help you achieve it.
Choosing The Right Neon Sign For Your Outdoor Area
A large part of what makes neon signs so attractive is the range of choices you have at your disposal. The first comes in terms of the design, where you essentially have free reign to create whatever you want, within reason. You can choose to bring your logo or slogan to life, you can recreate an image associated with your brand, or you can get creative and craft something entirely new and unique to the business. For example, neon can be used as a backdrop in outdoor entertainment areas, serving as a place for guests to take photos with friends and family.
You will have to consider the colours you would like to use, the font, the font size, and the spacing for the design. Not everyone has an exact idea of what they want, and for the most part, you can rely on professional neon sign makers to help you turn a vague idea into something concrete. The design specs will show you exactly how big your sign will be and you can then decide on the size of the sign and where you would like the sign to be placed. Your sign should not be obscured by other objects and should be visible to any and everyone in the outdoor entertainment area. The size you go for should depend on the size of your establishment and what you’re hoping to achieve with the neon sign outside. A sign that’s too large might feel overwhelming, while a sign that’s too small may never capture the attention of your guests at all, so striking the perfect balance is key.
At Carousel Lights, we’ve helped thousands of businesses bring their ideas to life, creating long-lasting and eye-catching signs perfectly suited to the outdoors. We make sure our signs are weather-resistant, functional and durable, and should you have any issues, we’re always willing to assist. The general process for installing a neon sign outside is pretty much the same as installing them internally, the only real difference being that access can be more difficult. We’ll also make sure that the sign is fully connected to the mains power supply, so you never have to worry about it losing power or running out of energy. We also produce real neon glass for outdoor use in the exact same way as we do when manufacturing signs for indoors. The only real difference is found in the transformer, where we use outdoor-rated Siet neon transformers for safe and reliable performance outside.
If traditional glass neon does not appeal to you and you are looking for something more modern, then consider replica neon products, such as the more energy-efficient LED neon signs. Carousel Lights offers two replica products, Neon Ultra and Neon SuperFlex. Our Neon Ultra option is manufactured from solid 30 mm opal acrylic, internally lit up with high-efficiency LEDS and sealed with silicon to protect it from outdoor elements. Our SuperFlex option uses LED strip lights to create the same effect as traditional neon signs.
The Best Examples Of A Neon Sign Elevating An Outdoor Space
Since the early 1900s, neon has been a staple of marketing, advertising and atmosphere for businesses, and throughout those years, we have seen plenty of famous examples of how outdoor neon signs can add something special to a space, creating a picture and feeling that lives in the memories of many. We’ll cover a few of the most famous examples to give you a clearer idea of just how well neon can work outside.
In Hong Kong and Tokyo, you will find streets vibrantly lit up by neon lights, combining light and warm colours to create a mood that is almost impossible to match anywhere else in the world. This only adds to the nightlife feel and gives people something special to remember. The neon lights almost form part of the street itself, making for an unforgettable experience.
In the U.S., you may remember the giant neon-lit guitar outside of the Hard Rock Café or the instantly recognisable Las Vegas welcome sign, both iconic in their own right and still relevant to this day. Even today, Times Square is no stranger to outdoor neon signs illuminating the city streets. And here in the U.K., the Lucozade neon sign was, for many years, a popular landmark easily visible to travellers heading from Heathrow Airport into London. In France, you can find neon lighting up the Moulin Rouge Windmill, a popular Parisian landmark.
Other famous examples of neon signs elevating an outdoor space while advertising a specific brand include the ever-golden McDonald’s sign and the red glow of Coca-Cola (you’ll still find one illuminating Times Square). All in all, we can clearly see how neon has been used and continues to be used by businesses all over the world.
Getting A Neon Sign Outside With Carousel Lights
The best way to guarantee that your neon sign serves its purpose is to get it made by experienced and qualified professionals. Luckily, Carousel Lights is just that, with decades of combined experience custom-making neon signs for clients throughout the UK and the world.
The process is simple and easy; you give us your initial thoughts, we ask a few questions regarding the surrounding details, we then share our initial designs with you, you then give us the go-ahead or not, we start producing your sign, and we get the sign delivered right to your door. Straightforward and hassle-free.
As the United Kingdom’s leading sign makers and neon specialists, we’ve helped thousands of clients turn an idea into a welcoming, functional neon sign. As industry leaders, we’re well-versed in manufacturing outdoor neon signs that last for years, and if traditional glass neon isn’t your thing, our replica neon options are a great alternative.
All of our signs are made right here in the U.K., so air mileage on the signs is limited, and if any repairs are needed at any point, we’re right here to assist. Our creative team of designers thrive on turning neon dreams to reality and we are always committed to getting the job done in a timely manner with no sacrifice in quality. We’re a family-owned business that pushes the boundaries of what can be achieved in neon sign making, and we’re trusted by famous brands and celebrities all throughout the world.
Our client list includes Coca-Cola, Paramount+, BBC, Sky Sports, Nike, Netflix, American Express, Disney, Gymshark, Facebook, Topshop, and many more. From lighting up the stadiums of Premier League football clubs to working with some of the most renowned neon artists in the world, we can do it all.
Install A Neon Sign Outside To Elevate The Space
The beauty and power of neon should not be understated, and its ability to turn an outside space into an inviting, lively and exciting area is still prevalent today. For restaurants, bars, live events, and more, neon offers something unique, eye-catching and perfectly customisable.
Your options with neon signage are close to endless. You can turn a vague idea into reality or offer exact specifications for the designers to follow when producing the neon sign. You’ll have to consider factors such as the colours you would like to use, the font and font size, where you would like to place the sign and how big you would like the sign to be. For looking for something more energy-efficient than real glass neon, the LED alternatives are a strong alternative.
From the heart of Tokyo to New York, neon signs have been lighting up the outside world for over a century. In 2025, the appeal of neon signage remains strong, and customisation options have only gotten even better. If you’re looking to elevate an outdoor space, consider putting up a neon sign outside. To learn more about outdoor neon signs, check out our website or give us a call at 01372 662299 today!
