Creating stylish decals doesn’t require expert design skills, nor a fortune. A clear idea, a balanced layout, and the right visuals can easily transform café windowpanes into welcoming works of art. Let Signs.com help you design professional-looking window decals that reflect your café’s unique charm and invite people to step inside for their next favorite brew.

3 Vital Elements for Café Window Decals

The first step to designing your café decals is knowing the fundamentals. Most of the popular cafés follow these three rules so their window decals look organized, easy to read, and reflects their branding.

1. Reasonable Design

Use colors that reflect your brand identity and images or patterns that complement your café’s theme. Always go for a cohesive look that customers can easily identify and connect with.

2. Readable Texts

If you are putting texts on decals, keep them short and easy to read. Use bold lettering for your café’s hours, highlight what you offer, and include a catchy tagline that complements your visuals.

3. Strategic Placement

Once you have your text and graphics ready, arrange them all in a balanced layout. Check visibility from both inside and outside and ensure the decal size fits your window panels perfectly.

5 Tips to Maximize Your Café Window Decals

1. Highlight What Makes Your Café Unique

Use your decals to express what sets your café apart. Short, catchy phrases like “Organic Beans,” “Local Love,” or “Brewed with a Heart” can instantly convey your brand’s vision and mission. Pair these lines with visuals like steaming coffee cups, beans, or pastries to make your restaurant instantly recognizable.

2. Use Transparent Decals to Balance Design and Visibility

A unique feature of the window decals is that they offer creativity through varying levels of transparency. Combine solid designs with clear sections to maintain visibility while adding depth. Frosted decals also create subtle texture and add elegance to your windows. Just make sure customers can still see through your restaurant — the café’s window shouldn’t feel like a covered billboard.

3. Consistency and Cohesion Are Key

Keep your storefront decal designs simple, balanced, and unified. Stick to one clear visual theme and no more than two brand colors. Avoid mixing too many styles or shades. To ensure readability, stick to two fonts that complement each other and can be read from any distance.

4. Design for the Long-Term

Most vinyl decals for cafés are durable and can endure sunlight, moisture, and frequent cleaning. Try to maximize this excellent feature by designing long-term café decals. Go for imagery and text that reflect your restaurant well for years to come. Timeless decals and designs will not only highlight the café’s enduring personality but may also make it iconic.

5. Design with the Customer’s View in Mind

When possible, use a mockup of your design to test your decals from the customer’s perspective. Step outside and see if the message is clear and the design is sound at a glance. If people can read your text in seconds and instantly recognize it’s a café, then your window design is doing its job perfectly.

The best café window decals always go the extra mile to enhance the café’s design. Excellent decals can set the mood, welcome guests, and reflect your brand’s unique personality. They can instantly communicate what your café offers and invite people to step in, relax, and enjoy their coffee. Since decals are a long-term investment, choose visuals that represent your business beautifully.

For professional restaurant printing and design support, Signs.com covers everything from design and layout to printing and shipping. See how you can bring your café’s charm to life through window decals that welcome passersby and turn them into frequent customers.

Designing Café Window Decals That Invite and Inspire

Table of Contents

• Font Categories
• Best Fonts for Signs
• 11 Tips for Using Fonts
• Can You Pick What Font Works Best? 
• FAQs
  

Font Categories 

Fonts are categorized into serif, sans serif, script, cursive, text, and novelty, each serving various design needs. Here’s a quick overview of each type: 

• Serif – These fonts have “tails” or small lines at the ends of each letter. They offer a classic and traditional feel, and are often used in formal and professional texts, like in books or newspapers. 

• Sans serif – Sans serif fonts are the opposite of serif fonts. They don’t have any extra lines at the end of each character and have a clean and simple look, which makes them suitable for signs and digital content.  

• Script – Script fonts look similar to handwriting. They offer a personal and elegant touch, and are usually seen in formal designs, invitations, or logos. 

• Cursive – Cursive fonts are flowing, connected letters. They’re great for decorative projects, but they can be hard to read if used for main texts. 

• Text – Text fonts are designed to look really old-fashioned, like Gothic and medieval letters. They are usually seen in certificates and formal event invitations. 

• Novelty – Novelty fonts have a fun, playful, and creative appearance. They are a great choice for posters and branding, especially if you want to grab the attention of readers or if you’re following a specific design theme.  

Best Fonts for Signs 

What is the best font for a sign? For most large-format signs, our designers recommend using any of the following fonts: 

If the font you originally chose isn’t on our list, don’t worry — it doesn’t mean you chose wrong. Remember, these were the most common answers found in our survey.   

Side note: Our designers also revealed their bottom three fonts to use for signs, which are the following:  

• Comic Sans 

• Papyrus 

• Any script font 

Steer clear of these fonts if you want your sign to be readable. If you love design humor as much as we do, check out this SNL skit about the Papyrus font. 

Most people first encounter fonts in school using programs like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, leading them to believe they’re limited to default fonts like Times New Roman and Arial. In reality, there are many fonts available for download or purchase that you can use for your marketing collateral. When picking a font for your signage, consider costs as many fonts are interchangeable. Investing in a pricier font may be worthwhile for website or brand consistency, but you can also use the fonts licensed to the software you’re using. 

11 Tips and Tricks for Using Fonts 

Besides font recommendations, our designers also shared tips to help you choose the right font whenever you make a signage or any marketing print product. Keep these tips in mind when deciding on which fonts you should use to execute your design.  

1. The best fonts are the classics. The top five fonts selected by Signs.com’s design team are Helvetica, Futura, Bebas, Avenir, and Proxima Nova. Arial and Times New Roman are also great!
2. Stay away from Comic Sans, Papyrus, script, and grunge type fonts in most situations, as they convey an unprofessional appearance. 
3. Refrain from using more than three fonts on a single sign. It can be tempting to use various fonts when creating your design, but the best practice for designing is that one or two fonts are enough for a well-balanced and cohesive design. 
4. White space is your friend! Keep this in mind as you design with fonts, images, and anything else you use. There’s no need to fill every single inch of a canvas. Let there be white space or blank space to let your design breathe and keep it balanced.  
5. Readability is your priority. If you’re unsure whether your font is readable and looks good, have a friend or coworker look for a second opinion. 
6. When designing large banners, go for sans serif fonts such as Arial, Helvetica, and Bebas. These fonts are the easiest to read and are great for enhancing the impact of large-format signs like banners, decals, aluminum, and plastic signs. For the best readability, our designers recommend using big, bold text with a dark color on a light background. 
   
   A large format sign with a bold sans serif font
   
   
7. Make sure your sign is readable from different distances. A sign typically has 10 feet of viewing distance for every inch of letter height on the sign. So, if the text on your sign is four inches, that would make it readable for most people from about 40 feet away. 
8. For small format signs like stickers and door hangers, you have the flexibility to choose between serif and sans serif fonts. Our designers recommend using sans serif fonts for headings and large text, while serif fonts are suitable for smaller text and paragraphs. Formal businesses like law firms and government offices use serif fonts for their text, but others have used sans serif fonts, too. 
   
   Image of a small format postcard that correctly utilizes serif type.
   
   
9. Use colors that contrast well and are not similar in value. Stick to a black or dark grey font color on light backgrounds or a white font color on a dark background. Other color combinations may work but may end up being more difficult to read or suggest a certain mood. For example, fonts in red can work in messages like promos and sales, but they also convey a sense of urgency and emergency.
10. Use bold fonts wisely. Keep in mind you don’t need to make the whole sign bold, but you can just emphasize the most important part of the sign to enhance visibility. Bold fonts are ideal for large signs and are also suitable for short and important statements like “FOR SALE” and “Everything Must Go.” 
11. Consider the purpose of your sign. If the goal of your sign is to inform people, use clear and readable sans serif fonts. For promotional signs, choose bold, unique, and eye-catching fonts that evoke a sense of urgency or excitement. If the sign is for a formal event, pick elegant serif fonts that fit the occasion. Remember, the right font choice will help get your message across and make a lasting impression to your audience. 

Can I Pick Which Font Works Best for Me?

Let’s look at four different signs with the same exact design but with different fonts.

Image D features the best font for a banner — a sans serif bold for maximum visibility. Images A and C, which used a script font and Comic Sans respectively, look unprofessional and are hard to read. Image B, which used a serif font, looks decent but more suitable for small formats. More details on why Image D is the right font choice will be explored in this blog post.

While there are multiple fonts available, the best fonts for your signs and banners ultimately depend on your sign’s purpose. When choosing fonts, remember to focus on readability. The right font should help your sign stand out, effectively communicate your message, and leave a lasting impression on your audience. 

FAQs

What’s the difference between serif and sans serif fonts? 

The difference between serif and sans serif fonts lies in serifs, which are small tail-like lines at the characters’ ends. Times New Roman is a popular serif font while Helvetica is a sans serif that’s also known to many designers. Sans serif fonts are typically the best types to use for large signage due to their clarity, but they are also suitable for smaller formats and prints. 

What is an elegant font for signs?   

If you want your sign to have a touch of elegance, choose script fonts that resemble calligraphy, whether created with a pen, brush, or by hand. Some examples are Pacifico, Lobster, Allura, Alex Brush, and Parisienne, which work great for events, invitations, cafes, restaurants, salons, and more. While script fonts look visually appealing, remember to exercise caution when using them, as they could be difficult to read if they’re heavily used in large blocks of text. Script fonts are more suitable for short words or phrases and larger sizes. 

What font is best used for decorative signs?  

If you want to add character to your sign, decorative fonts are the perfect choice. Decorative fonts have a theme and are composed of various shapes and elements. Some examples include Cooper Black, Gilroy, and Gazpacho. Decorative fonts are often used for identifying a brand and are often seen in logos, headers, signs, merch, and more. Remember to use them sparingly in body text, as they will look cluttered and unreadable. 

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Best Fonts for Signs and Banners

A popular way to get inspired on a day to day basis is through wall quotes. This has become a popular trend in homes and businesses to motivate and uplift. Our vinyl lettering or wall quotes are made with a durable vinyl that is individually cut with an adhesive backing. Your wall quote will be individual letters but com pre-masked with transfer tape for an easy one-time installation of your entire quote or design. To see the ten most popular vinyl lettering wall quotes click here. If you already have a specific quote or saying in mind that is going to motivate you, the next step is easy. Start by jumping over to the wall quotes product page. Next, you can enter in your custom dimensions then click on the “Get Started” button as seen in the picture below.

In the design tool, you can upload a vector file if the design has been created outside of the website or you can create the design right there! By simply adding text and/or clipart, you can create the motivational quote you need for your wall.

You can also check out some inspirational wall quote templates by clicking on that link or on the following templates:

Here are a few examples of wall quotes in action:

Image courtesy of Pinterest

Image courtesy of Pinterest

Image courtesy of Pinterest

Another way in which to be inspired through signs, is hanging pictures of a personal goal. Maybe your goal is to eat healthier, maybe it’s to exercise more, maybe you have financial goals or maybe it’s something as simple as spending more time with the family. Any and all of these goals can be printed and displayed in your home for a little push and inspiration. With the new year upon us, many of us are going to select a new year’s resolution. We all know how difficult it can be to actually stick with that goal and see it to the end. It can be pretty easy to get started and feel motivated in the beginning; the tricky thing is following through and seeing your goal to the end. But, having a reminder of that specific goal displayed somewhere in your home can be a great way to push our minds and bodies to achieve what we desire.

The end goal could be displayed through a repositionable wall decal. These decals are an opaque vinyl material that have a low-tac adhesive on the back side. They can be installed on any smooth, clean surface. Images of our goals can be printed on these decals and can be positioned on any wall, at any time. You can even move the decal around with you and place it in different locations on different days, making that wall decal a strict reminder of what you want to accomplish.

Goals could also be displayed using a magnet for your fridge. Every time you are in the kitchen, walk past the fridge, or reach inside the fridge, your goal will be displayed as a reminder and inspiration. Your magnet can be as small as 6 inches by 6 inches. Anything from pictures to a quote can be printed on a magnet for motivation.

A couple of other effective options for inspirational signage might be a small vinyl banner or a picture printed on a poster or gorgeous metal. 

Inspiration can also be found from the people whom we love. Custom prints of our loved ones displayed in our homes can provide the inspiration needed to achieve a goal or make something happen. Seeing their faces might be just enough motivation for us to keep going. Our prints, such as our canvas prints or wooden prints, provide a perfect base for pictures of our loved ones to be displayed.

Here are some examples of canvas prints with photos for inspiration:

Image courtesy of Project Nursery

Image courtesy of Sugar Bee Crafts

Image courtesy of Green Street Blog

We also offer photo prints with three different finishes: metallic, matte and glossy. These are printed on professional grade photo paper to ensure the best quality for your family photos.

No matter what kind of inspiration you need, there is a variety of ways you can find it through signs. Finding encouragement and inspiration through signs and lettering is made easy through our online design tool. If you are having trouble designing exactly what you want, our team of professional designers can help with free design help and photo retouching. They can put together a design for you that will inspire and uplift each time you look at it. It can be tricky finding inspiration in our lives, but having a beautiful sign to look at can get us started and inspire us to achieve what we want. So go ahead and create your inspirational sign and feel a difference in your life.

Inspirational Quotes – Photo Arrangements and Wall Signs

Borders can draw attention to the information that is inside. Many different kinds of borders can be added to a design. Decorative borders add style to the design, and can be added directly to the design file and uploaded to the website. Solid borders can also be added to the design file, or it can be created by following the steps below on the Signs.com design tool.

Step 1

Click on the background and change the background color to the color of border you are wanting.

Step 2

Go to the Clip Art Tool and select the square shape.

Step 3

Click on the blue lock on the Object Options box so that it turns gray and looks unlocked.

Step 4

Change the size of the square to be 1” smaller than sign you are ordering.

You can make it bigger or smaller depending on how thick you are wanting the border. Ex: If you are ordering a 24” x 18” sign, make the square 23” x 17”

Step 5

Use the Center Vertical and Center Horizontal design tools to center the square on the screen.

Step 6

Change the color of the square to be the color of background you are wanting.

Step 7

Click the Send to Back button in the design tools until you see your text show up.

Not all borders have to go to the edge of the sign. Some borders are a thin line around the whole design. The following steps are similar to those above, but you are creating one more layer so that the border doesn’t go all the way to the edge of the sign.

Thin Borders

Follow steps 2-7 above, but make the color of the square the color of border you are wanting. *If the color of the border is the same as the text, you will not be able to see your text when you click on Send Backward, but it is still important to do step 7.

Add an additional square to the design and make it a little smaller than the square added above. Two inches smaller than your actual sign will leave you with a 1 inch wide border.

Follow steps 5-7 above

Either border can be used on the sign and still create the desired outcome: drawing attention to the information inside the border. In a few, easy steps, your signs will be ready to be seen.

How to Add a Border Using Our Design Tool

You’ve undoubtedly seen it before somewhere on the web, or maybe even real life. The 3D sidewalk chalk art, also known as street art or street paintings that looks amazingly real. Artists across the world practice the trade today but few know that forms of street painting trace their origins back to Britain as far back as the 1700s.

The 3D art itself is two dimensional art often drawn on sidewalks that when viewed at a certain angle appears to be three dimensional and creates an optical illusion that is stunningly real.

In 1984 leading street artist Kurt Wenner invented 3D pavement art as a result of being inspired by anamorphic art – or one-point perspective art that is viewable only from a specific angle. In doing so he had to invent an entirely new geometry to make his sidewalk art work the way it looks today. Many of the other famous names of sidewalk art, including Edgar Muller, Julian Beever and Manfred Stader trace their beginnings back to Wenner.

Today these talented street painters or chalk artists often gather at festivals visited by hundreds of thousands of people across the globe to display their talents and admire fellow artists’ abilities. We’ve put together a few of the most famous street painters as well as 101 of the coolest 3D chalk art paintings we could find.

Famous Street Artists

All of the street painters below are extremely talented at sidewalk art but also artists by their own right.  We’ve included some of their best street paintings as part of our list and listed their bios and websites below – check them out!

Kurt Wenner – Father of Pavement Art. Educated at Rhose Island School of Design and previously worked for NASA.  Asphalt Renaissance is Wenner’s book that showcases his work.

Manfred Stader – Another early artist on the scene, German born and raised Stader continues to be one of the best at the craft today.

Leon Keer – Learned his trade painting murals for multinationals and today this Dutchmen is a leading 3D sidewalk artist of world wide fame.

Julian Beever – English artist who has practiced the trade since the mid 1990s. His book, Pavement Chalk Artist, features much of his work from around the world.

Edgar Müller – German street artist renowned for his abilities and was first artist to create a street painting that changed from one image to another with the change of light.

Joe Hill – Famous artist who holds record for largest and longest 3d artwork (Reebok Crossfit in gallery below) and has worked with brands across the world. Also is behind the 3D Joe and Max website.

Nikolaj Arndt – Nikolaj was born and educated in Russia but currently teaches in Germany. Despite teaching he still is a leading 3D artist that has worked around the globe.

We’ve tried to include all the artists whose work might be included below. Let us know in the comments if we missed any so we can give them a shout out!

101 Awesome 3D Street Paintings and Famous Artists