Directional Signs: Wayfinding That Works
Directional signs with arrows guide residents through corridors and past decision points. Learn where to place them, how many you need, how to build a coherent wayfinding system -- and why you do not have to choose left or right when you order, because the arrow arrives detached and goes on once the sign is mounted.
Directional signs are the connective tissue of a care home wayfinding system. While door signs identify rooms and projecting signs mark key locations, directional signs guide residents between those points. They answer the question every person living with dementia asks when they step into a corridor: "Which way do I go?"
The Role of Directional Signs in Dementia-Friendly Design#
The DSDC emphasises that wayfinding is not about a single sign -- it is about a system. Directional signs are the navigational backbone of that system. They feature a destination name, a pictogram matching the one used on the destination's door sign, and a clear directional arrow. Consistency between directional signs and destination signs is critical: if the dining room door sign shows a blue plate icon, the directional sign pointing toward the dining room must show the same blue plate icon.
Where to place directional signs in a care home:
- At every corridor junction where residents must choose a direction
- At the exit from communal rooms (lounge, dining room) pointing toward toilets
- At stairwell and lift entrances showing which floor holds which facilities
- At the main entrance pointing toward reception and key communal areas
- Midway along long corridors to reassure residents they are heading the right way
- Outside bedroom wings pointing toward the nearest toilet and communal spaces
Arrow Design and Placement Strategy#
Arrows should be large, bold, and unambiguous. An arrow pointing left should clearly point left -- avoid angled arrows that could be interpreted as pointing diagonally. Mount directional signs at 1.4 to 1.5 metres centre height, consistent with all other signage. At T-junctions, a single sign with two arrows (left and right) listing different destinations can be more effective than two separate signs, as it presents all options at the decision point.
Left or right? You do not choose the direction when you order#
This is the question buyers actually ask us, and it has a simple answer that was sitting in an email instead of on this website. On the directional signs sold on this site the arrow is a separate piece: it arrives detached, and you fit it to the sign after the sign is on the wall. So you do not have to work out the direction of every sign before you order, and you cannot order the wrong one. Our director put it to a care buyer who asked in June 2026 like this: "The directional arrow arrives detached. You attach it to the sign once the sign is mounted to the wall. It makes it much easier to order as you don't need to figure out every direction in advance." Asked two days later whether the join would show, he said the arrows are a snug fit and that you would never know once they are installed.
Practical consequence for ordering
count the directional signs you need by decision point and by wording, not by direction. A corridor plate reading "Rooms 18-23" is one line on your order whether it ends up pointing left or right, and the sign itself is 105 × 500 mm.
Pro Tip
Limit each directional sign to a maximum of three destinations. More than three creates visual clutter and cognitive overload for residents with dementia. If a junction leads to more than three destinations, prioritise the three most commonly needed by residents.
The sign this guide is about
Oak directional sign with arrow — Toilet
A long sign with an arrow, for the corridor wall where people have to choose a direction. They go up in pairs, one pointing each way.
105 x 500 mmToilet door sign: listed 1A, DSDC directory (2018)Made to order by Wayfinders
Already know what each sign should say? Send us the list on the order form.
Building a Complete Navigation System#
Map your care home as a series of decision points. Starting from the most common origin (the resident's bedroom), trace the route to every key destination: toilet, dining room, lounge, garden, and reception. At each point where the resident must make a navigational choice, a directional sign is needed. Walk the route yourself, noting where you hesitate or where the correct direction is not obvious. Those hesitation points are exactly where directional signs deliver the most value.
A useful test
ask a first-time visitor to find the dining room from a bedroom corridor using only the signs. If they hesitate at any point, that location needs a directional sign.
Recommended Products
Our directional signs are manufactured in Dublin from 5mm solid white acrylic with textured 3D imagery and a bold arrow supplied detached, so the direction is set on the wall rather than on the order. Optional braille and tactile elements are available, and the eight colour-ways match the door signs and projecting signs so a scheme reads as one system. What a DSDC accreditation does and does not cover is set out in our knowledge-base article on DSDC accreditation.
Directional signs are the most frequently underused sign type in care homes. Many facilities invest in excellent door signs but neglect the wayfinding links between them. Adding directional signs at the points where a corridor branches is what connects the door signs into a route somebody can follow.
Signs for what this guide covers
Directional signs for corridors
Arrow signs for corridor junctions, pointing to the toilet, lounge or dining room with the same pictograms as the door signs.
See the directional signsFree, before you order
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