{"id":29523,"date":"2026-07-15T15:30:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T22:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.avery.com\/blog\/?p=29523"},"modified":"2026-07-15T15:30:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T22:30:07","slug":"how-to-make-temporary-signs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.avery.com\/blog\/how-to-make-temporary-signs\/","title":{"rendered":"Temporary Signs: How to Make Them So They Don’t Look Cheap"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You can change a sign\u2014you can’t change a bad first impression<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We’ve all seen a faded piece of paper taped to a wall and masquerading as a sign. You know the ones, with their curling edges and long-dried mystery splatter. At best, they look simply unappealing (and unprofessional) in say, an office, retail space, lobby, or reception area. In restaurants, food trucks, and bathrooms? Actually disgusting. Temporary signs that look cheap make a bad first impression, and like a popped balloon or squeezed tube of toothpaste, once it happens there’s no going back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From over a decade of vending for my small business, I can tell you that “temporary signage” is one of the most misunderstood parts of selling in person. A lot of people assume the choice is between cardboard and a marker or professionally engraved signs. It isn’t. Likewise, temporary signage for walls isn’t limited to used-and-abused paper or marble plaques with brass fittings. There are better options that are just as flexible\u2014but look a whole lot less temporary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re putting a sign on a wall, setting one on a table, or displaying one outdoors for a season, there’s usually a better option\u2014and choosing the right one starts with knowing how and where you’ll use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Different jobs call for different temporary signs\u2014from seasonal business hours to tabletop displays.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Choose the right temporary sign for the job<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any one type of temporary sign isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, because the situations are not all the same. Sometimes you’re guiding guests through an event or process, like tent cards that help people navigate seating arrangements at a wedding<\/a> or event check-in at a hotel. Other times, you need wayfinding signs to direct visitors through a building or office. Or maybe you’re posting temporary parking instructions, construction detours, or seasonal business information that needs to stay outdoors for weeks or months. Choosing the right format from the start is the easiest way to create a temporary sign that doesn’t look last-minute or like an afterthought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your sign will…<\/th>Consider…<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Hang on a wall or door indoors<\/td>Removable adhesive signs<\/td><\/tr>
Sit on a counter or table<\/td>Tent cards<\/td><\/tr>
Stay outdoors for months<\/td>Durable vinyl signs<\/td><\/tr>
Direct guests around an event<\/td>Removable adhesive signs or tent cards<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How do I make temporary signs for an event?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Once you’ve chosen the right sign for the job, creating it is the easy part. Our online sign maker<\/a> includes free templates and simple design tools to help you create signs that fit your space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From weddings to vendor booths to campus events, you can easily design polished signs without starting from scratch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then it’s just a matter of printing your signs, whether you do it yourself or order them custom printed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Temporary<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Planning for your next big event? <\/strong>Signs are only one layer of the experience. Here are some additional resources that can help you get started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n