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Neon signs should be at the top of your list if you want decorating ideas for the Year of the Snake. They are versatile, reliable, and easy to customize, which makes them perfect for special occasions. You can also easily design, customize, and order neon signs or spare parts, and they will arrive just in time for Chinese New Year.
This article discusses simple and budget-friendly DIY neon sign projects you can use to celebrate the Year of the Snake in style.
If you are a neon sign enthusiast and want to create unique neon signs to honor this important Chinese Zodiac year, you are in the right place. The article is also aimed at anyone looking for unique but reliable ways to decorate for the Year of the Snake. Let's get started!
Easy and Fun DIY Neon Sign Projects for the Year of the Snake
The following are eight easy and fun neon sign projects you can try for the Year of the Snake:
1. The "Minimal Coil" - Warm White Snake Outline
Appearance: The "minimal coil" DIY Chinese Zodiac year neon sign project consists of a simple snake that should be ideally coiled in a peaceful pose against a plain or black background. The snake symbol should be outlined or backlit in a warm white light to create a welcoming soft glow.
Significance: This simple yet powerful neon sign is for the Year of the Snake. It captures the simple grace of this year's zodiac animal (the snake) while being minimalist.
Instructions:
This project is excellent for beginners since you only need basic materials, and it is easy to customize or create with simple shapes. You'll only need an EL wire in warm white, some command strips, a black acrylic sheet (about 12 by 12), cable ties and a simple wire cutter.
As the first step, draw your coiled snake design on transparent paper and then transfer the design to the acrylic sheet. Then, attach the EL wire, align it to your outline, and secure it with the cable ties in the right place. Nex, mount the power supply behind the acrylic and connect the strip. Lastly, mount the sign and power it on by connecting the power supply to an outlet.
2. The "Lucky Snake Blessing" - '福' with Serpent Accent
Appearance: This is a beautiful DIY neon sign project that combines the traditional blessing character with modern and minimalist snake art. Together, they create a display that you can use to bring good fortune to your space.
Significance: The design is meant to honor the Chinese New Year symbols- 2025 being the Year of the Snake. It might seem complex, but breaking it down into small sections makes it fun and easy.
Instructions:
You will need red LED neon flex strips lights (about 8 feet), a round wooden base 15 inches in diameter, mounting clips, clear adhesive, a power adapter and some screws.
Start with a sketch of the '福' character on paper and the snake. Next, follow the sketch to mount the LED strips using the clips.
Start with the character, then mount the snake symbol, which curls around it. Make the necessary connections behind the base and connect the neon sign to a power outlet.
3. "Infinity Snakes" - Double snake infinity design
Appearance: This a simple neon sign project for Chinese New Year depicting two snakes meeting in an infinity pattern with a blue glow.
Significance: This neon sign will represent good fortune, harmony or eternal luck- just what you need as a theme for the Year of the Snake.
Instructions:
You need a blue LED neon rope about 10 feet long, some plastic backing board about 18 by 12 inches, some mounting clips, a power supply and wire connectors.
Begin by sketching the infinity symbol with the snake head on both ends. Next, gently bend the LED rope from one snake, then secure it with the clips every few inches. Please do the same for the other snakes, but make sure they face each other.
Lastly, connect all the wiring and link the power supper behind the board. Mount this sign on a dark wall for the best appearance.
4. "Fortune Toad & Snake" - Money Toad with Snake Detail
Appearance: This is a unique one that we'll categorize under "retro neon signs" for this list. It depicts a toad (Jin Chan) nicely outlined with green neon and a small snake symbol sitting near its lucky coin.
Significance: This sign is great for the Year of the Snake because it symbolizes fortune-bringing power. It's a great DIY neon project that you will enjoy, and it will help you sharpen your skills when working with curved and straight lines.
Instructions:
You will need green neon flex tubing about 7 feet long, plywood backing about 14 inches by 14 inches, a mounting bracket, a power adapter and wire connectors.
Start by drawing the toad lines first before you add the snake details. Next, use the brackets to attach the neon tubing, starting the toad's body and coin. Shape the snake symbol to appear like it is guarding the coin. Lastly, connect the wiring to the power supply and hide it behind the plywood backing.
5. "Snake Character" - '蛇' on Hex Frame
Appearance: This is one of our favorite custom neon signs for the Year of the Snake. It is a purple neon sign that turns the Chinese character for a snake into neon art, mounted on a bamboo hexagonal frame. We can categorize it under "retro neon signs" as well.
Significance: The sides of the hexagonal frame represent the six blessings recognized in Chinese culture. The character will honor the zodiac year, the Year of the Snake (2025).
Instructions:
This DIY neon lights signs mini-project will teach you how to shape neon LED wires in angles and straight lines. You will need a purple LED neon wire about 5 meters long, bamboo strips (6 12-inch pieces), corner connectors, mounting hardware, and a power supply.
Begin by assembling the hexagonal base/frame using the bamboo strips. Next, draw the character 蛇 in on the frame and use the clips to attach the LED wire in that shape form. Connect everything to the power supply and mount your sign.
6. Lucky 8 Serpent" - Snake-Shaped Number 8
Appearance: This special gold-toned design depicts the luckiest Chinese number (8) in a stylized snake.
Significance: According to Chinese traditions, this neon sign symbolizes prosperity and the snake's wisdom. The number is associated with wealth and prosperity.
Instructions:
The number 8 used in this DIY neon project is easy to shape as it flows freely using neon flex neon tuning. You will need good-quality neon flex strips about 6 feet long, a white acrylic backing about 16 by 10 inches, some mounting clips, adhesive hooks and a power supply.
Start by sketching a flowing figure 8 resembling a snake in motion. Next, attach the flex neon tubing using the clips at appropriate intervals following the shape.
Make sure you shape a slight bulge for the snake's head and tape its tail at the end. Lastly, conceal the necessary power connections behind the acrylic backing.
7. "Double Joy Snake" - '囍' with Snake Elements
Appearance: This pink neon DIY project uses the double happiness symbol for the Year of the Snake 2025. It should have a lovely pink glow for some modernism, even though it is a traditional symbol.
Significance: The double joy snake symbolizes joy and happiness, perfect for New Year. It can also be used for weddings.
Instructions:
You will need pink neon flex tubing about 9 feet long, a black PVC board about 20 by 15 inches, some wire connectors, mounting brackets and a power adapter.
Start by sketching the 囍' character and adding subtle snake details at the corners. Next, mount the neon flex tubing following the pattern using the brackets from the center to the outer edges. Lastly, wire everything up and hide the wiring behind the PVC board.
8. "Guardian Light" - Tai Sui Talisman with Snakes
Appearance: We will end on a high note with the 8th sign project, which is also a lucky number. This neon sign will combine the powerful Tai Sui symbol with small snakes.
Significance: This neon sign is a protective talisman for the Year of the Snake, symbolizing the "protective" energy of the new and powerful year.
Instructions:
You will need an orange LED neon wire about 7 feet in length, dark wood backing about 15 by 15 inches in size, connectors, mounting clips and a power supply.
Using the neon wire, create the main talisman pattern on the wood backing, and then add the snakes. Mount every component carefully, hiding the wires behind the backing and placing them in a nice place. This is one of the best neon signs for bedroom décor this new year.
Materials Needed for DIY Neon Signs
Each DIY neon sign project on this list requires different materials, as you have observed. These are materials you can easily purchase online and use to create or customize your signs.
However, you will generally need the following materials for DIY neon sign design and customization:
- Light sources, e.g. Neon flex tube, wire or rope
- EL- Electroluminescent wire (Wikipedia)
- Neon Strip Lights
- Backing material, e.g. acrylic sheets, plywood, bamboo or PVC boards
- Mounting hardware, e.g. Clips, screws, cable ties etc.
- Electrical Components, e.g. Power supply (rated for your light source), wires, electrical tape and an outlet
- Tools, e.g. A wire cutter, pen or pencil and screwdriver
In Conclusion
DIY neon signs are easy and fun to make, especially if you are making them for a worthy cause, which in this case is to celebrate the year of the Snake Chinese New Year celebrations. The materials you need are readily available online, and you don't need complex tools.
Even better, you can add to your amazing collection by ordering custom neon signs with Lamomoneon from the comfort of your web browser.
