Directional signs are essential in both private and public spaces, guiding people through buildings, streets, and open areas daily. As highlighted on our directional signage page, these signs can take many forms beyond traditional wall or post mounts. One highly effective alternative is floor decals—a modern, eye-level wayfinding tool that combines both form and function.
Let’s explore how floor decals can enhance wayfinding, creating a more navigable environment in any space.
How to Use Directional Floor Decals
Directional signage serves various purposes across different spaces. Here are four common ways businesses utilize directional signage, and how floor decals can effectively support each purpose.
1. Floor Decals for Providing Directions
One of the most prominent ways directional signage is used is for providing directions. This often takes the form of an arrow along with a symbol or text to point people in the direction of exits, bathrooms, elevators, stairs, cafeterias, departments, rooms and more. Floor decals provide an effective way of directing foot traffic because of their location.
For example, at a hallway intersection, arrow decals on the floor make it clear where each hallway leads. Pointing people in a forward direction can be difficult with hanging signs, but floor decals make it easy. Providing directions tends to be one of the best uses for wayfinding floor decals.
2. Decals for Labeling Rooms and Key Areas
Another important function of wayfinding signage is to label areas or rooms so people know when they’ve reached their destination. This can include reception areas, common areas, conference rooms, offices, restrooms and customer service desks.
A variety of signage types can be used to label areas, including floor decals. Floor decals are an effective choice for labeling areas during events especially when permanent signage isn’t practical. For instance, a floor decal can guide community members to a drink ticket booth at a street fair.
3. Marking Zones with Distinct Floor Decals
Directional signage can designate distinct areas, clearly separating them from their surroundings. This could include dedicated smoking areas, drive-through lanes, areas where personal protective equipment is required and no-diving pools. Using signs to label these areas can help people know what’s allowed in an area or where they should or shouldn’t be.
While there are many ways to label these areas, floor decals are highly effective, as they catch attention right where people naturally look while moving through a space.
4. Wayfinding Floor Decals for Clear Guidance
Wayfinding signage isn’t only for labeling spaces or guiding traffic; it can also be used to share essential information. Examples that fit into this category include displaying store hours, directing customers to use a certain door to enter your building or specifying the maximum number of items for a speedy checkout lane.
While other types of signage may work best in some of these situations, floor decals can be a great choice in some scenarios for providing instructional information. For instance, a floor sign can be applied in front of a reception desk that prompts visitors to check in with the receptionist when they come in.
Enhance Navigation and Organization with Custom Floor Decals
Directional floor decals are a versatile solution for guiding, labeling, and informing in any space. They can direct foot traffic, clearly mark key areas, designate specific zones, and provide essential instructions—all while seamlessly blending into the environment. Ready to enhance navigation throughout your space?
Request a Free Consultation on Directional Decals
Benefits of Custom Directional Floor Decals
So, with all the sign types out there, why should you consider using floor decals to help with wayfinding in your facility or event space? Floor decals offer some valuable advantages as directional signage. Floor decals are a great option to consider since they:
1. Grab Attention with Visible Floor Decals
A key advantage of floor decals over other signage is that they catch the attention of people looking down. Signage is only effective if visible, making visibility a top priority when creating new signage. Directional floor decals naturally catch attention as people look down while navigating a space. Research shows people are especially likely to look down at their feet if they are in a hurry.
People are often more likely to notice floor decals than overhead signs, as they’re often looking down at their phones. One study found that the average person today spends over three hours on their phone every day. That isn’t hard to believe when you consider how many people you see in public are looking down at their phones. While these people may miss signs at a higher eye level, they’ll likely notice a floor decal in front of them.
2. Enhance Your Space With Floor Decals
Another benefit that directional floor decals offer is that they can spruce up your space. While wayfinding signage always has a practical purpose, it can also serve a decorative purpose. You can use bright colors, custom fonts and images to turn a directional floor decal into a focal point that enhances your space.
Most floors are a blank space that can serve as a canvas for decorative signage. This is especially helpful in open spaces where walls are scarce, such as department stores or even outdoor spaces. Wherever there is a floor, sidewalk, parking lot or any other walking surface, you can add decoration through custom floor decals.
3. Maintain a Professional Look with Custom Decals
You can purchase generic directional signs for businesses that label or point to common amenities such as restrooms and exits. You may also be able to use prefabricated signs to label rooms if you stick to names like 1A or 2B. While these generic signs may be better than nothing, custom directional signage can help you maintain a more professional image and gives you the freedom to label rooms more creatively and specifically.
Floor decals, in particular, are an excellent means of assisting with wayfinding while branding your space. Having a signature color as part of your branding improves brand recognition by 80%. Your company likely already has a signature look, including colors and fonts, that go into your visual branding, so why not incorporate it into your wayfinding signage? This way, you can reinforce your branding throughout your facility.
4. Enhance Indoor and Outdoor Spaces with Durable Decals
A very practical advantage of floor decals is that they can be used in both indoor and outdoor settings. This is good news since most facilities include wayfinding signage inside their buildings as well as outside.
Though the term “floor decals” may cause you to picture these graphics on a floor inside a building, some decals are made from durable material that can stand up to the elements outside. A heavy-duty laminate with a strong adhesive back allows these decals to withstand outdoor foot traffic, wind and rain while still looking great. Concrete and asphalt surfaces work well as application surfaces for exterior floor decals. Just be careful to avoid large bumps or cracks that could compromise the decal.
5. Serve As Temporary or Long-Term Decal Options
Another practical benefit of floor decals is that they work well for both temporary and long-term installations, depending on the quality of the substrate and adhesive you select. Floor graphics can last six months or even longer if they are well-maintained. Since floor graphics are relatively affordable, replacing them occasionally is a sustainable plan for permanent directional signage.
For many businesses, the flexibility to update directional signage as names and locations change is essential. Floor decals are ideal for this purpose—they can guide visitors to temporary exhibits in a museum or provide wayfinding at events like trade shows or outdoor fairs. Whether you need signage for months or just a weekend, floor decals offer a versatile solution.
Where Can You Use Directional Floor Decals?
Wayfinding floor decals are versatile, serving various functions across many environments. Here’s a look at key spaces where they can make a difference:
- Malls: Floor decals help shoppers locate stores, food courts, and seasonal attractions, such as holiday photo stations.
- Hospitals: Decals guide patients and staff to wards, waiting rooms, and cafeterias, and can also serve as hygiene reminders.
- Department stores: Working with limited space, department stores can utilize floor decals direct shoppers to checkout areas, specific departments, and customer service.
- Sports stadiums/arenas: As large spaces sports stadiums and arenas, need directional signage to help fans locate their seats or find their way to restrooms, concession stands, ticket booths and merch stores without having their vision of the game obstructed.
- College campuses: Decals guide students to classrooms, elevators, and outdoor spaces, particularly useful for new students during orientation.
- Schools: Floor decals help students navigate to classrooms, auditoriums, and gymnasiums, and they allow for branding with school colors or logos.
- Offices: Large offices benefit from office directional signs that mark collaboration areas, break rooms, and conference rooms, adding functionality and branding.
- Airports: Decals direct travelers to terminals, gates, and amenities, providing high visibility in fast-paced environments.
- Warehouses: In warehouses, floor decals guide workers to aisles, loading docks, and safety zones without adding obstructions in high-traffic areas.
- Public Transit Stations: Decals clearly mark rail lines, platforms, and key areas to help passengers navigate quickly and efficiently.
- Museums: Floor decals guide visitors to exhibits, restrooms, and gift shops without blocking visual displays, enhancing the visitor experience.
- Trade shows: Trade shows use floor decals to guide attendees to registration areas and booths, and individual vendors use them to help visitors navigate their space.
Custom Floor Decals From SpeedPro
At SpeedPro, we believe signage should never be dull or generic. Every sign you incorporate into your facility should be visually engaging and made from quality materials that contribute to your professional image. Our national network of print studios is staffed by experts who can help bring your artistic vision to life. One of our representatives will assist you in choosing the best materials and specifications for your project.
SpeedPro is the nation’s leading provider of large-format graphics, so you can trust us to offer the very best print methods and materials, along with our expertise, to make your project shine. In addition to custom directional signs, we can help you with all your custom graphics needs so you can populate your entire space with professional, eye-catching signage. To get started, find your local SpeedPro studio today.