The holiday season is the perfect time to transform your restaurant into a festive, inviting space. From cheerful holiday banners to vibrant window graphics, the right decor can draw in guests and enhance their dining experience while boosting your brand visibility.
Whether you’re a café owner aiming for a chic, seasonal look or a patron hosting a restaurant holiday party, our printing experts recommend several large format substrates for crafting stunning, customized holiday decor.
Why Holiday Decor Matters for Restaurants
Forks down, food is the biggest draw for restaurants. Having the right chef, staff, and location plays a role, too. But so does the inside space. In fact, how your restaurant looks on the inside can influence 60% of your customer’s decision-making process. With everything from lighting to layout making an impact, adding holiday signage is icing on the cake.
Seasonal decor is an excellent opportunity for restaurants, bars, and cafés to showcase their unique brand personality. The right restaurant signage reflects your restaurant’s identity while capturing the festive atmosphere.
Holiday decor in restaurants also doubles as a powerful marketing tool. With carefully placed signage and themed displays, restaurants can draw attention to seasonal promotions or special holiday menus, driving customer interest and boosting sales.
Additionally, an Instagram-worthy holiday aesthetic encourages guests to snap and share photos, turning your festive decor into free advertising as customers spread the word about your restaurant on social media.
Top Nine Types of Holiday Signage for Restaurants
There are several types of signage that are perfect for restaurant holiday decor, and our printing professionals at each of our six locations have printed and installed many of these large format graphics.
1. Holiday-Themed Banners
- Best For: Indoor or outdoor use to promote holiday specials or events.
- Why It Works: Vinyl and fabric banners are versatile and can be placed in high-visibility areas like entrances, walls, or above counters. You can customize the design with festive colors, holiday greetings, or promotional messages.
- Example: A banner at the restaurant entrance reading “Happy Holidays” with festive graphics or a promotional banner showcasing a “Holiday Brunch Special.” You can even use banners to “wrap” your restaurant or café like a present.
2. Window Graphics or Decals
- Best For: Interior and exterior windows or glass partitions.
- Why It Works: Large format window decals and clings are perfect for adding a festive touch without taking up physical space. Frosted decals capture the winter season, but you can also have window clings that are clear, opaque or perforated. If there’s enough space you can also create a holiday window display.
- Example: A frosted snowflake pattern on your restaurant’s front windows or a large decal with “Warm Up with Our Winter Specials.”
Window graphics can help peak customers’ interest before they enter the restaurant! Check out our best practices for restaurant window graphics to make your storefront a visual feast all year.
3. A-Frame (Sidewalk) Signs
- Best For: Sidewalks or entryways to capture foot traffic.
- Why It Works: A-frames, also known as sandwich boards, are portable and can be updated with new holiday messaging or offers or help with wayfinding and directional details. The graphics are interchangeable, so you can use them for year-round events and specials.
- Example: Add an A-frame sign outside your restaurant promoting a holiday drink special or seasonal event, like “Holiday Cocktail Hour: 4 PM – 7 PM.”
4. Hanging Signs or Ceiling Danglers
- Best For: Indoor spaces with high ceilings or open areas.
- Why It Works: Hanging signs or danglers add verticality to your decor, making the space feel fuller and more immersive. Printed and installed correctly, these signs are vivid and visible from a distance. This can also be temporary for patrons that rent the space for holiday parties.
- Example: Festive hanging signs with holiday shapes or stars that say “Season’s Greetings” or have pictures of holiday food specials.
5. Floor Graphics
- Best For: Restaurant entrances or specific areas, like near the bar, larger rooms, and event spaces.
- Why It Works: Floor graphics can guide customers or reinforce branding while adding a fun, festive element. Choose durable, non-slip floor decals that can be holiday-themed.
- Example: Imagine a path of snowflake decals leading guests to a holiday event area.
6. Tabletop Signage (Table Tents, Menu Cards)
- Best For: Individual tables, countertops, or bars.
Why It Works: Restaurant holiday menus are a must-have. Custom-printed tabletop signs allow you to communicate holiday specials, seasonal menus, or promotions right at the customer’s seat. This signage is both decorative and functional.- Example: Holiday-themed table covers or seasonal menus promoting special holiday meals or a festive dessert.
7. Custom Cutout Standees
- Best For: Photo-op areas, outdoors, or near the entrance.
- Why It Works: Large-format standees can be shaped like holiday icons (e.g., Santa, Christmas trees, snowmen) and serve as an engaging decor element that guests can take photos with. This encourages social sharing and helps promote the restaurant.
- Example: Picture a life-sized Santa standee for kids to take pictures with or a large wrapped present branded with your restaurant’s name.
8. Illuminated Signage
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- Best For: Both indoor and outdoor use, especially in the evenings.
- Why It Works: Sleek and modern, SEG lighted signs make your holiday messaging stand out. You can showcase festive winter scenes or holiday specials printed on fabric for SEG illuminated frames. Backlit acrylic menu boards are also very popular.
- Example: A glowing “Happy Holidays” sign in the restaurant’s window or a light-up menu board showcasing holiday dishes can draw eyes and promote special events.
9. Pop-Up Banners or Retractable Banners
- Best For: Event spaces, holiday buffets, or promotional corners.
- Why It Works: Pop-up or retractable banners are portable, cost-effective, and easy to set up. These banners feature high-quality graphics that highlight specific holiday promotions or events. They’re great for seasonal pop-up installations or to make a statement in a high-traffic part of the restaurant.
- Example: Place a retractable banner advertising “Festive Family Meals Available for Takeout” near the entrance.
From the sidewalk to the table, signage is a first impression and a silent salesman. Take advantage of crafting signage that resonates year round in our complete guide to café signage.
Practical Tips for Implementing Large Format Printed Holiday Decor
Implementing large format printed holiday decor requires some thoughtful planning to maximize its impact.
- Plan Early: Start working with your printing provider well in advance to ensure timely delivery and installation before the holiday season.
- Measure Twice, Cut Once: If installing window, wall, or floor graphics, measure the space properly to ensure graphics are the correct size once installed.
- Design Consistency: You want holiday decor that aligns with your restaurant’s brand identity and complements your existing aesthetic.
- Strategic Placement: Place large format decor in key areas, like entrances, bar areas, or near special promotions, to guide customer flow or highlight specific offers or spaces within the restaurant.
- Consider Space: Choose decor that fits the size and layout of your restaurant, ensuring that it enhances the ambiance without overwhelming the space.
Help Holiday Decor Stand Out With Expert Printing Services
Ready to make your restaurant the go-to holiday destination? From seasonal window graphics to holiday-themed wall murals and festive tabletop signage, Color Reflections can create the high-quality, large format signage you need to captivate your guests and boost business. Contact Color Reflections today to discuss how our large format printing services can transform your space and spread the holiday cheer!
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