I have a slight obsession with accent lighting. Overhead lights are rarely used in my household, and most of my lighting choices are made with a single question in mind, “How does it contribute to the vibe?” Obviously, this means I’ve been dreaming about having a neon sign on my wall for years, but — while I love the aesthetic of traditional neons — glass neon signs can be expensive, heavy, and breakable.
These days, there are countless LED neon signs available, but most of the options I found in stores were either tiny or mounted on a cheap plastic stand. Nothing really reached that “statement piece” level that made me love glass neon signs — something that’s part light and part artwork — so when I saw Yellowpop’s customizable LED neon signs on social media, I jumped at the opportunity to see if my neon dreams could become a reality.
Yellowpop’s “Design Your Neon” option is pretty cool
I’m picky when it comes to customization options, and I really dislike it when brands claim to offer “customized” products when you only have three to four options to choose from. Straight away, I was surprised to see that Yellowpop’s customizable LED neon signs went above and beyond my expectations. If you’re looking for a text-based neon sign, Yellowpop’s neon customizer is straightforward and easy to use, and it includes a handy preview feature where you can see your design choices in real-time (and even increase or decrease the amount of light in the virtual room).
Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable
With 30 different fonts to choose from, 13 color options, and a handful of other customization options available including the color of the tube, different backing styles, and the three main size options (although you can choose a custom size as well if you want something even bigger). Plus, Yellowpop’s website offers pricing transparency with custom neons starting at $149, so you can see the price of your design as you build it.
Even cooler? Yellowpop also offers full customization options for anyone looking to create a sign with a logo — or your own original artwork — so you can just upload your design to Yellowpop’s website and receive a quote within 24 hours.
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Installing the sign was easier than I expected
Straight out of the box, I was impressed with my custom neon sign. It shipped pretty quickly (Yellowpop offers free shipping and returns), and the sign was huge. Obviously, I knew the size going into it — after all, I designed it myself — but the craftsmanship was still impressive. I wasn’t sure what to expect regarding weight, but I was pleased to discover it was light and flexible without seeming cheap or flimsy.
Even better? Installation took less than three minutes. Yellowpop’s website mentions three main mounting options: hanging your sign, mounting it with the included hardware, or adhering it to the wall with 3M strips, and — given that I wanted to mount my sign on a cinderblock wall — I wasn’t sure which method would work best. Obviously, drilling into cinderblock didn’t seem worth it, hanging it from my tall ceilings was going to be a challenge, but I wasn’t sure how 3M strips would work with the slightly bumpy surface and the weight of the sign.
Surprisingly, they worked flawlessly. The sign itself is so lightweight that it only took four 3M strips to adhere it to the wall, and it’s stayed there without issue for several weeks. Plus, even though I chose the hollow-out backing style (there’s just a clear plastic strip spanning the width of the letters that made it easy to level), I was able to hide the 3M strips behind the letters.
Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable
The quality of Yellowpop’s LED neon signs blew me away
I’ve seen a lot of LED neon signs in stores like Walmart and Target, and — while they’re definitely more affordable than Yellowpop’s neon signs — the quality difference was surprising. Even though my design was rather large, Yellowpop did a fantastic job of finding the balance between a lightweight product that’s still durable and visually appealing.
With an optional touch dimmer (meaning you can tap to turn your light on or off instead of unplugging it from the wall), the LED neon sign was bright, colorful, and evenly lit. Even during daylight hours, it added a nice touch to my office wall. And at night, the vibes are definitely immaculate.
Once I plugged it in, I knew I was sold on Yellowpop’s LED neon signs. It’s bright enough to illuminate the room without being obnoxious, and the durable plastic tubing is sturdy yet light enough that in the unlikely case that it does fall off the wall, I’m not worried about the sign breaking (or it breaking something else).
The price is the only downside
Obviously, I’m already a fan of Yellowpop’s LED neon signs. I loved being able to customize my own sign, and the result is both a cool piece of wall art and a surprisingly bright accent light. Even my partner was jealous of the sign — and asked if he should purchase one for his side of our home office — but he immediately hesitated when I told him the only drawback: the price.
Even though my sign is only two words (“why not”) and I chose the medium size — the exact dimensions vary depending on your design, but mine was 35 inches x 12 inches — the sign clocked in at a hefty $425. The smallest size available would’ve been $330 for a 28-inch x 10-inch sign, and the largest preset size (roughly 57 inches x 19 inches) would’ve been a whopping $685.
Yellowpop does have pre-made designs available that are slightly cheaper — one option that was similar to my custom design in style and size was $339 — as well as collaborations with other well-known artists and designers that come with a heftier price tag. That being said, if you’re a fan of Andy Warhol, they did a partnership with The Andy Warhol Foundaiton that has some pretty rad designs like this Campbell’s Tomato Soup sign.
Is a Yellowpop custom neon sign worth it?
Here’s the thing: There are definitely other, cheaper options to getting a neon sign for your house. You could purchase a smaller LED neon sign from Amazon or Target, or you could save up for a glass neon — or keep your eyes peeled for a vintage glass neon sign at your local antique store — but all things considered, I’m surprised by how much I like my Yellowpop custom neon.
Is it cheap? Definitely not. However, the quality is impressive — and it’s much larger than any of the other LED neon signs I’ve found in stores and online. Plus, I view it like purchasing a piece of wall art or furniture for my home. I’m always on the hunt for a bargain, but it’s kind of nice to splurge on something that I’ve been dreaming about having since I was a kid.
So if you’re in the same boat — or you have some cash to spare — I’d say do it. It’s a ridiculously cool light that’s worth the splurge (at least in my opinion), and I suspect it’ll be living on my wall for years to come. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, however, you might want to wait for a sale or look elsewhere. Four hundred dollars is a lot to spend on an LED neon sign, so it’s definitely more of a luxury purchase than a whim.
