Every festivity and celebration calls for decor that adds to the charm, splendor, and pomp of the occasion. Among several such options available for decoration, a DIY balloon arch is one such budget-friendly and easy-to-install festive decor that can be used for any joyous occasion. Be it a housewarming party or an anniversary, or a birthday celebration – setting up a DIY balloon arch can enhance the entire theme of the gathering without looking like you have tried too hard to fit it in.
Balloon garlands seamlessly stand out in every gathering. At the same time, they elevate the essence of the decoration you have put together to highlight the vibe of the party.
While you are planning to host your next big event, this article just serves the purpose right. In this article, we have prepared a comprehensive list of such budget-friendly ideas that will help you to proceed with these decorative ideas ahead.
How To Make a Balloon Arch?
Before listing out ways on how you can use balloon garlands for different occasions, here’s how you can make your own DIY balloon arch with minimum supplies and at an affordable cost.
1. Pick Your Design
Decide on the theme of your event first. Next up, visualize the kind of balloon decor that you want. Whether you want to go for a balloon garland or a DIY balloon arch, or a balloon bouquet is the first thing you need to figure out, following which you should start your hands-on preparation for the balloon decor. Depending upon your event’s occasion and theme, you may use either latex balloons, helium balloons, foil balloons, and the like.
2. Get Your Supplies Ready
In order to achieve the task of DIY balloon arch, there is the requirement of certain basic supplies, which includes
- Balloons (of different sizes and colors that match your party theme)
- Electrical balloon pump
- Glue gun or Glue dots
- Decorative Strip Holder
- Command Strip Hooks
- Metallic Balloon Arch Kit
- Twine or Fishing Line
- Ribbons (optional)
- Confetti (optional)
- Tassels (optional)
3. Blow Up The Balloons
Use the electrical balloon pump to blow up the balloons to your required size. Knot it up. Use twine or a fishing line to secure the knot so that the balloon retains its shape and size for longer. Using a manual balloon pump works pretty well for latex balloons. But for foil balloons and helium ones, using the electrical pump is mandatory.
4. Place Them On the Decorative Strip
Place the neck of the balloons through the holes of the decorative strip. To ensure that the knot stays fastened properly, slide the neck of the balloon right up to the end of the hole of the decorative strip. You can also add more than one balloon in one hole. This way, you can add more balloons while also ensuring that they are secure in their place. For extra precaution, you can add adhesive tape around the neck of the balloon so that it does not deflate.
5. Set Up Your DIY Balloon Arch
You can use command strip hooks to hang your balloon garland from the walls or the front of a door. Or, you can set up the inflated balloons on a metallic balloon arch kit of a design of your choice.
Pro tip: Unless you hang a balloon garland over the door, it is always safe to use a metal arch kit to set it up. It is sturdy and supports the DIY balloon arch, so it doesn’t just trip over due to a gush of the wind. Moreover, you cannot miss out on the metal kit, especially if you host a party for the kids or invite them over.
6. Layer
For layering your DIY balloon arch, put glue on balloons and add more balloons or other decorative items to give it a fuller look. You can use balloons of other colors to make it look more attractive. Use a glue gun for convenience, especially if you are working with children and don’t want to get too messy. Glue dots are also a convenient choice, even more so when you are working with balloons.
Liquid glue generally does not stick to slippery surfaces of balloons. Hence, the above two options are your best choices for use as adhesives when making a DIY balloon arch.
7. Amplify the Accessories
This is an optional step, and it depends upon the theme of your grand event. You can use tassels or multi-colored ribbons and hang them from the necks of balloons or add confetti before you blow up the balloons to use as send-offs.
Get creative with your balloon arch. Accent it with elements that reflect your personal taste in aesthetics and decor. Add a teddy or any other centerpiece to elevate the look.
Budget-Friendly DIY Balloon Garlands for Any Occasion
Here is a list of the most unique and creative DIY balloon arch and DIY balloon garland ideas for any occasion that is sure to be the showstopper of the party.
1. DIY Balloon Arch for Wedding Ceremonies
Whether you have planned your wedding in your backyard or a rented indoor place, a DIY balloon arch works great for both! Nothing speaks of elegance at a wedding more than an arch, and what better way to decorate an arch than with balloons? Use high-quality latex balloons in a pop of colors for a mature look. If you’ve planned for a wedding theme, we recommend choosing colors that highlight it. For example, if you’re going for a metallic theme, choose browns and blacks. If you have decided on a specific color theme, create your DIY balloon arch with balloons of the same color. You can layer up with contrasting colors or complementing colors.
If a DIY balloon arch feels too simple for a grand wedding, put up add-ons like tassels, stars, macrame, streamers, and all things glittery to accent it up! Create it yourself using a balloon arch kit for a personalized affair. You can set up the DIY balloon arch right at the entrance or the entrance of the walking aisle or at the ceremony venue. You can even set these up at all of these points. You can choose to make them all look similar or different. Either way, they are light on the pocket, so you can use them for livening up your wedding decor without a worry.
2. Balloon Garlands for Birthday Parties
Birthday parties, especially for children, look and feel incomplete without balloon garlands, balloon toys, and balloons everywhere. However, make no mistake in thinking that you should not incorporate balloons when celebrating the birthday of an adult. DIY balloon garlands and arches are unwritten mandatory birthday decor, irrespective of the age of the person for whom the celebration is being conducted. When it comes to your kid’s birthday party, involve them in making a DIY balloon arch or garland for the entrance. This not only makes them self-sufficient but also promotes your bond with them. Use balloon garlands at the entrance and on the stage.
Use foil balloons of different shapes and sizes to create balloon toys for children and daily use objects for adults. You can also prepare a balloon bouquet using helium balloons and or confetti balloons tied together with a fancy ribbon to use as takeaway gifts at such events. If you’re an adult and using balloon props feels like a too childish idea, you can anyways use a balloon arch kit and set up a minimal DIY balloon arch with less number of balloons for a sophisticated yet adorning birthday party decor.
3. Balloon Garlands for Front Door Decor
A DIY balloon arch serves as creative front door decor for all types of home occasions. Be it the housewarming party or a get-together, or a family brunch on Halloween or Christmas, if you want to keep decorations simple for the intimate affair vibe, you just cannot miss out on this. Brownie points for using balloon garland as your front door decor, even on regular days! Because you actually can without making your effort to jazz up your front doorway too prominent! You can even increase the decorative element of your front door DIY balloon arch or garland by adding foliage hangings from your backyard garden. Set up door hangings and other balloon toys that match the special occasion or mark the special days.
For example, if you’re hosting a Halloween dinner for friends and family, go for yellow neon balloons for setting up your DIY balloon arch. Place pumpkin carvings outside your front door for extra effect. If you have latex balloons, don’t worry. Add string lights around your DIY balloon arch for the “Halloween effect.” Scribble down Halloween inscriptions on the balloons with a black marker to go all out with your decorations. You can even use letter foil balloons in the center of your DIY balloon arch to customize welcome messages for your guests.
4. Inverted Balloon Arches For Ceiling Decor
Always dreamed of a starry night wedding but don’t know how to get that with an indoor wedding? With a dreamy ceiling decor of an inverted DIY balloon arch, that is possible too! Sounds difficult? Prepare your regular DIY balloon arch on a decorative strip and hang it from the pergola using command strip hooks or sturdy twine. Add ceiling hangings to brighten it up. Use pendant lights or hanging string lights for a romantic set-up. We recommend using neon balloons for decorating the ceiling with an inverted DIY balloon arch. You can also use LED balloons for the purpose.
And wait, we’re not done yet. Inverted balloon arches for ceiling decor need not be limited to weddings only. You can incorporate this idea into your child’s birthday party as well! In addition to DIY balloon arches, you can use helium or foil balloons shaped in the form of your child’s favorite cartoon character or animal that will brighten up the occasion and your kid’s smile. The biggest advantage when using DIY balloon arches for ceiling décor at children’s events is that kids will not be able to reach out to them, ensuring that your decor remains unscathed throughout the evening while also thoroughly enjoying the celebration.
5. LED Balloon Arch for Office Celebrations
Apart from workloads, celebrations form an equally important part of a healthy work culture. Get the perfect blend of professionalism and a party vibe with a DIY balloon arch. And yes, when it comes to workplace events, make sure to keep it minimal yet gorgeous. That is, do not go over the top with a loaded balloon arch. Instead, keep the number of balloons to a minimum. Choose shiny LED balloons. Avoid any forms of hanging whatsoever. For a more formal approach, you can use foil balloons and latex balloons instead of their helium counterparts.
Use alphanumerical-shaped balloons to convey what the event is about instead of the regular paper placard for a formal event vibe. Lofty balloons are what you want to make sure to avoid at an office event. Use regular-sized balloons to get the perfect balance of elegance and courtesy – exactly what attendees at a corporate event would expect. Also, we would recommend you avoid using streamers or embellishing tassels and ribbons at such events. In fact, accessorizing a DIY balloon arch at a work party is a big NO! Remember, a DIY balloon arch is the highest decor you can or should use at such events.
6. DIY Balloon Arch for Photo Booths and Photoshoots
No merrymaking event feels incomplete without a photo booth in the venue. Of course, everyone always has their cameras ready for those selfies and groupies that they can’t wait to post online. But clicking pictures using a photo booth background not only beautifies the photos but also makes the celebrations pompous, with swarms of guests going there for that one perfect photo that they want to use as their profile picture. Using a DIY balloon arch for a photo booth or a photoshoot backdrop not only invigorates the whole decor but also adds the perfect archetype to your visualized party theme. Here, you can be as creative as you want to.
Go over the top with accessories or keep it minimal – let no one tell you that you need to adhere to a specific format for a DIY balloon arch for a photo booth. If making a DIY balloon arch while preparing for the entire arrangement for a big event overwhelms you, go for a simple balloon wall instead. Team up with your friends to use a soft board to set up your balloon wall. Use a combination of glue and tape to stick up the balloons. This will secure the balloons to the board. Spray paint the balloons and the open side of the tape if you wish to.
7. Use Confetti Balloon Add-Ons
Set up this customized arch on the dance floor or the exit pathway of the bride and the groom. You can also use confetti balloon add-ons at a gender reveal party. We get that it’s an intimate affair. That is why a DIY balloon arch would be the perfect basic decor at such an event. And imagine pink or blue confetti falling over the parents in the most resplendent manner without even ruining their dress or make-up! Sounds like the perfect Instagram-worthy picture setup? That’s because it is!
You can implement a similar idea while preparing for a baby shower. Putting up a DIY balloon arch in soft colors can set up the perfect ambiance for this event. Use balloon toys for baby showers and gender reveal parties. A rainbow-themed balloon arch can be the perfect way to honor your rainbow child if they are the one you’re organizing the baby shower for. Use transparent, round helium balloons for confetti balloon add-ons at a wedding reception, gender reveal, or baby shower. To spice things up, you can add firecrackers to your send-off bucket along with confetti balloons. Use color-coordinated tassels and ribbons at the neck of the balloons to enhance the decor.
Conclusion
Summing it up, a DIY balloon arch or a balloon garland can serve as the perfect decoration for any kind of occasion. Since they are budget-friendly and easy to make, they are the most popular choice for party decor. Moreover, they can be curated to look both ornamental and professional at the same time. And you can customize them to fit the theme of your occasion. Usually, a DIY balloon arch or a balloon garland never overburdens an event decor. But it comes to the preciseness and taste of the host to create and install them in a manner that looks prettifying.
If you are preparing for a big event at your house or at a rented place, take ideas from this article to design your DIY balloon arch. Tell us in the comments section below how you made it, which theme and which balloons you chose, and why you chose them.
Let us know in the comments how well you liked our ideas and how you plan to proceed with the decoration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Days Before an Event Can I Make a Balloon Garland?
Balloons look their best and shiny when they are new. Hence, we would recommend you make your balloon garland just about two to three days prior to the event you would be using it for.
How Many Colors Should Be in a Balloon Garland?
There is no such rule that dictates how many colors there should be in a balloon garland. If you are hosting a color-themed party, use the colors you’ve selected for the theme in the balloon garland.
