Neon signs for offices and other business premises

Modern offices are no longer the stark, white rooms they once were, and many business premises make the décor a crucial part of their branding. Indeed, a growing number of companies are not only decorating their buildings in bright, bold colour schemes, they’re incorporating eye-catching neon signs into their design too.

On this page, we look at:

• why neon signs have become a popular design choice for many businesses
• some practical points to keep in mind when considering neon signs for your office or commercial premises

Click on a link below to jump to that section:

• Illuminated signs as an important aspect of office design
• Creating a visually appealing workspace
• Using signs to support staff wellbeing
• Tips for using neon signs in offices
• Frequently asked questions

With the increasing emphasis on employee wellbeing, activity-based working and company cultures, office design has evolved beyond the basic cubicle layout or the configurations of desks inside a plain room.

Now, the aim is to create a workspace that both reflects the company’s brand image and values and enables employees to be as productive as possible.

Décor is one of the key elements of office design, and building in corporate colours is the traditional way of integrating branding into a workspace. However, what used to be done with a fresh lick of paint is now being achieved via illuminated signage.

An office’s interior design can benefit employees and clients alike.

For staff, a visual workspace is an effective motivator, boosting morale simply by providing a positive and exciting atmosphere in which to work. For clients, a bright, professional-looking space with well-designed branding depicting the business’s logo, mission statement or company slogan can make a lasting impression.

Bespoke neon signs have become popular, as organisations recognise the commercial advantage in brightening up their premises. Whether installed in an entranceway or wall-mounted and used as neon art throughout a room, neon signs are rarely less than impressive.

Research has found that the colour of person’s place of work can have a significant impact on their emotions and performance. Although white walls might be easier to paint and maintain, they won’t inspire much creativity among employees or generate excitement about a company’s style and brand.

Colours associated with being restful and soothing—such as green or blue—were found to make workers more productive, while red was reported as also contributing to employees’ feelings of positivity during their workday.

Red is the standard colour for traditional neon signs, as it’s bright enough to be visible at any time of day, but sign making companies usually offer the choice of around 10–50 colours, including:

• white
• blue
• pink
• purple
• orange
• turquoise
• green
• Yellow

With LED neon which replaces neon gas with more efficient LED lights—the options are virtually limitless. There are 10 single-colour LEDs, but the digital and colour-tuneable LEDs can be set to change to whatever colour is needed.

Companies should incorporate a variety of colour schemes to help define certain areas of the premises, whether that’s collaborative spaces for employees to come together for meetings, or “breakout” areas intended for rest and relaxation.

Happy employees are productive employees, and this is why so many businesses are now focusing much of their attention on learning how the workplace affects workers’ health and taking steps to address any potential issues. Neon signs are one simple and effective way of accomplishing this.

One thing to keep in mind when incorporating neon/LED neon into an office design is that it’s easy to overdo it. Remember: you’re aiming to energise your employees and clients, not dazzle them! That said, you should take the opportunity to get creative.

When considering how your neon signs should look, your approach should be to pick either:

• one neutral colour
• two colours that complement each other

Signs with neutral colours can be attractive on the eye but subtle at the same time. If your office is decorated in white or has an otherwise light colour scheme, the inclusion of neon will introduce some striking hues and tones.

If it makes sense for your business to create a stimulating and fun working environment for staff, loud, brash primary colours can work very well.

Can neon signs be displayed outdoors?

Absolutely—go to any major city and you’ll see neon on the sides of buildings everywhere! Both traditional neon signs and LED neon signs can be used outdoors without any issues.

How long do neon signs last?

Most traditional neon signs have an expected lifespan of between eight and 15 years, although many exceed this. It does depend on how often the signs are used and whether they are properly looked after.

Are neon signs safe?

Yes, as long as they have been manufactured correctly and well maintained. There are certain safety risks around the use of noble gases and mercury, but modern neon signs are designed and produced according to strict quality standards and, as such, are
unlikely to be unsafe.

As LED neon doesn’t use either neon tubing or mercury, there are practically no safety risks.

Read more about neon sign safety here and here

Do neon lights burn out?

Yes, traditional neon signs are known to burn out. What tends to happen is that the whole sign, or a part of it, will stop glowing. This is usually due to a component in the sign failing.

However, LED neon signs like NeonPlus® don’t burn out, as LEDs rarely overheat and the technology is much more stable and reliable.

Read more about neon burnouts here

What are reverse channel letter signs?

Reverse channel letters are backlit, three-dimensional letters made of acrylic and/or metal. They are mounted away from the wall so that the light creates a halo-like glow around each character and lights the sign from behind.

They are often used as signage on the facades of business premises and other commercial and public buildings.