9 Trade Show Booth Design Ideas on a Budget

An eye-catching, show-stopping, and impactful trade show booth doesn’t need to break the bank.

When you stroll around the trade show floor, you may see over-the-top trade show booths and wonder just how they can make this kind of display possible for themselves.

What you may not realize is that you can have eye catching within budget, it just takes a little savvy design and strategy.

1. Decorate With Rented Plants

Plants quite literally breathe new life into a trade show booth.

Their naturally eye-catching nature doesn’t take a whole lot of design planning, and they’re perfect for representing brands looking to tap into the serene, the eco-friendly, or a certain welcoming atmosphere.

Rented plants are even better.

When you rent plants for your trade show booth, you’re getting beautiful, vibrant, and lively well-grown plants that you don’t have to worry about caring for yourself. The best part? They come at a much lower cost and at the end of the day when compared to purchased plants, and you’re able to hand them right back, no worry about care or transport.

2. Make Use Of Digital Displays

Digital displays are eye-catching, and they allow you to customize branding, messaging, and mood. When using digital displays, be mindful however of expenses tied to vendor fees that may be charged by exhibit companies.

Your digital display can play helpful or inspiring messages, show demo videos, or provide further contact information to guests walking by your booth on the trade show floor. Digital displays can also help with storytelling if you lack the support staff at your booth.

tv displayed framed by green plants

3. Research Renting

Renting provides a cost-effective way to really have creative fun with your furniture, audio/video equipment, and even your booth structure.

Before making any purchases for a particular trade show appearance, look into local companies that may allow you to rent what you need first. This is particularly beneficial for brands traveling from out of the area, as they never have to worry about hauling what they need for their booth to the venue or back home.

4. Highlight Focus Areas With Strategic Lighting

Highlighting focus areas around your trade show booth helps to guide guests through the story you want to tell.

There are a number of ways you can highlight these focus areas within your trade show booth, and one budget-friendly (but still eye-catching) strategy is by using lighting. Lights to highlight these focal points guide your guests with drama and style, and they do so at minimal cost.

5. Use A Smaller Booth

When it comes to trade show booth design, bigger isn’t always better. Many brands are surprised to learn just how much they can do with a small booth.

When designing smaller trade show booth displays, you’ll require less to fill and design the space, helping you to save in the process. Using rented plants, strategic focus lighting, and other design savvy elements, your booth will be just as attention-grabbing as those double its size.

6. Skip The Flooring

Few attendees who come to your booth will be looking down at the floor – especially when you’ve put your skills into designing what’s around them. For this reason, you can skip the flooring and focus on telling your story through design instead.

vase of two dozen pink roses next to a table with eyeglasses

7. Share Space With A Complimentary Business

If you’re working with a larger space, sharing that space with a complimentary business allows you to pool and share resources between you – thereby also splitting the cost.

A floral design business with a landscaping company, or a software company and a brand who designs office chairs, can work together to create something truly unique and stand-out for a fraction of the price.

8. Maximize Spend By Hiring A Photographer/Videographer

We get it, everyone wants to save money, but there are some areas you shouldn’t skimp on with your trade booth. One item worthy of the investment, and which will save you in the long run, is photography and videography.

Photography professionals will use their skills to capture marketing collateral that’ll serve you in your own advertising throughout the year and beyond.

Find a photographer that specializes in trade show and event photography for the biggest return on your investment.

9. Save On Staffing

Greeters, brand ambassadors, and demonstrators don’t have to be flown out from your home state if you’re traveling for a trade show. Utilizing temp-hire non-specialized staff local to the area can save you a great deal on travel expenses, provide you with professionals who understand local cultures and personalities, and boost local economies alongside your brand.

More Money Saving Tips

While there are bigger decisions you can make to save on your trade show booth design and appearance, there are plenty of smaller ones, too. A few ways to save here and there on your overall trade show visit experience are:

Stay off the strip – When looking for lodging in Las Vegas, staying on the strip is always going to be more expensive. Rather than looking toward those big hotels, turn your attention to the many lovely smaller hotels you can find off the strip instead.

Take advantage of early bird pricing – When you book your travel, your stay, and even your trade show space matters. Book early to save as often as possible.

Consider driving out your supplies – While shipping your trade show supplies may seem like the easiest option, you’re going to be paying more. If you’re looking to create an eye-catching display on a budget, consider having your supplies driven to your location instead.

Use mobile hotspot – Using a mobile hotspot to provide internet access may be cost-effective if the venue charges for wireless access. Less people will be using this access point, which may even allow for better wireless performance.

Share information digitally – Rather than having physical cards and flyers on hand, sharing information digitally is both more budget friendly and more convenient. Well designed digital flyers or business cards are just as eye-catching, and they’re less likely to be lost or misplaced by your recipients.


For more information on exhibitor services, plant rentals, floral design, staffing, and photography/videography services in the Las Vegas area, contact us at Expo Ease today.

Peter Frigeri

Horticulturist. Entrepreneur. Eco-adventurer. Peter Frigeri has been innovating in business since he moved to Las Vegas in 1991 to run trade show operations for Showtime Florists. Just a couple years later, he went out on his own, founding Falcon Floral, and within five years, he evolved that business into Expo Ease. In 2000 he took advantage of technological innovations to expand his company to offer a full suite of event services, from show decor to photography marketing. Meanwhile, in 2009, Peter launched his third business, Gaia Flowers Plants Gifts. With a focus on local and sustainably-grown products, Gaia is also a full-service company, with services ranging from event floral, delivery to commercial plant maintenance. And as if that weren’t enough, Peter is an officer on the boards of two local nonprofits, Great Basin Permaculture and Friends of Gold Butte. In both his personal and professional lives, Peter does everything he can to fight for the preservation of the Earth and its resources, so that his children and grandchildren can enjoy its bounty as much as he does.

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