Trade show lighting ideas to spotlight your business

By Stephanie Lamie

Dozens or hundreds of competitors are crammed into an expo center with your trade show display, trying to pull in new customers and reinforce ties with old ones. Your booth is well-stocked with branded swag and smiling staff. What’s your edge? Why should they stop at your booth?

Try these five creative lighting ideas to create trade show buzz and draw them in like moths to a flame!

5 bright trade show lighting ideas

1. Overhead lighting

This lighting technique makes it easy for visitors to spot your booth from a distance without detracting from your messaging once they arrive to chat. Spotlights work well for this. A floor or tabletop display complete with subtle overhead lighting is the ideal way to bring your message to light. Or, if it works with your setup, light your existing display with a universal ceiling light.

2. Backlighting

This technique is well-known in the fashion model industry, creating shadows and clarity at the same time. Backlighting can give the same pop for your booth too. Use a backlit fabric floor display that matches your brand colors or theme of the show as an easily transportable and low-cost way to help your booth stand out. A light box banner stand is another creative display idea for an eye-catching and stylish expo space.

3. Linear lighting

Using LED strips or rope lights is called linear lighting. Use it to highlight message boards, walls, table edges or to illuminate a path that leads attendees straight to your booth! Cool tones, gentle color-changing fades or moving beams can all change the feel and effectiveness of your booth presentation. Also, LEDs are, “better for lighting exhibits opens in new window because they maintain a cooler temp, don’t draw as much power and last longer.”

4. Kinetic lighting

This visual feast for the eyes, similar to moving lights effects seen at concerts and fashion shows, uses pixelated LEDs to create interactive, multi-sensory fun. Set up a space and encourage your booth visitors to capture and share their kinetic lighting interaction. Hand out selfie kits for them to take a pic and post their photos for another prize or perk!

5. 3D displays

These high-tech lighting techniques include LED lightboxes (fabric graphic panels stretched over aluminum frames), LED video walls for immersive 3D animations and interactive content, 3D holographic displays that use LED fans to project logos or other images and many more options. Prices can vary, but most are easy to set up and can be customized to fit different booth sizes—all are fun!

Complement your well-lit booth with light-up yo-yos, pens, keychains, flashlights and more flashy fun giveaways.

For more trade show booth tips, check out these links:

10 best giveaways for trade shows

Engage introverts at trade shows

Trade show giveaways

Stephanie Lamie

Stephanie Lamie is a senior merchandising category manager who has been with 4imprint for 28 years, including 21 years in her current role. She oversees several product categories, with her largest areas of focus being writing instruments and tradeshow displays. Stephanie enjoys discovering new products, tracking industry and retail trends, partnering with suppliers and learning more about sustainability. She began her 4imprint career as an expediter before moving into sales, claims and corporate programs—experience that gives her a broad understanding of the business. As an expert in all things pens, she uses her deep knowledge of 4imprint’s departments and customer needs to bring the very best writing utensils and tradeshow products to the market.