Wondering how to take your café or restaurant to the next level? It's time to consider custom business signs. Signs aren't just functional — they're a great way to separate premises into distinct areas, add style and make sure that visitors know where to go to get what they need. They're especially useful in large restaurants or unusually-shaped buildings with confusing layouts.

Signs improve the flow of foot traffic, help customers to feel at ease and can be a great way to show off the theme of your restaurant. Retro signs complete with neon lights would be perfect for an American diner-style café, while signs carved into wood are great for restaurants located in natural surroundings.

Read on for more details on how to use signs for the best effect.

Show customers where to go

Although it might be obvious to you, new customers to your establishment might struggle to find their way around. You should make a list of everything customers might need to do while they're visiting you and ensure that there are signs in place to help.

A customer just stepping over the threshold should immediately be shown where to go. This could be a sign asking them to wait to be seated, inviting them to choose their own table or telling them to order at the counter. The ordering process is often the most confusing thing when visiting a new restaurant, so make sure that this is really clear.

Next, think about amenities. Toilets are key, and there should be a sign that is visible from every table in the restaurant, with details on disabled and baby changing facilities. If there's a children's play area or garden, make sure visitors know about it! A rarely visited space could become a favourite spot once everyone knows that it exists.

Show off your style

Signs don't have to be boring. You can choose from a huge variety of shapes and materials, including metal, various types of wood and different colours of acrylic. Signs can be backlit for extra effect, which is perfect for restaurants open in the evening.

Choosing the right typeface can have a big effect on the style your signs convey — you could choose an old-fashioned font to complement a historical building or something fun and playful for a more modern establishment.

Your signs should tie together, but they don't need to look identical. You could use the same type of wood cut into different shapes or the same acrylic shape in different colours. Start seeing signs as a key part of your decor, not just something you've stuck up as an afterthought. Customers will be more likely to return to a café or restaurant that has a distinct, memorable style.