Balloons have long been a symbol of celebration, adding colour and joy to any party. However, the environmental impact of traditional balloons (often single-use and reliant on the non-renewable resource helium) has become a growing concern.
The good news is you don’t have to give up balloons to host an eco-conscious event. In a previous post, we discussed how to reuse helium balloons. Today, we’re sharing five creative, helium-free balloon display ideas to impress your guests.
Balloon sustainability
When creating helium-free balloon displays, consider reusing old balloons whenever possible. If purchasing new balloons, choose reusable and biodegradable options or source them second-hand. Then, maximise the lifespan of your balloons by reusing them multiple times before upcycling them. Responsibly dispose of them by cutting them into small pieces and placing them in a general waste bin.
Small steps like these can make a big difference in reducing the environmental impact of your celebrations.
How to display balloons without helium
Helium is a popular choice for uplifting balloon displays, but it’s an expensive and limited resource. The good news is you can create stunning balloon decorations without relying on helium.
With these simple and creative balloon decoration ideas, your displays can be just as impressive as helium ones — if not more so — while being kinder to the planet.
1. A string of balloons
For a straightforward yet striking decoration, consider hanging a string of balloons. It’s perfect for displaying above a cake table, on a backdrop for photos, or where the guest of honour will enter the room.
To make a basic string of balloons, you’ll need:
- balloons in two colours
- a ball of string or ribbon
- wall hooks
- a pair of scissors.
How to make a string of balloons
Inflate all your balloons to the same size, choosing colours matching your party’s theme. Tie each balloon to a length of coloured string or ribbon, alternating balloon colours for a coordinated look. Weave in biodegradable streamers or spiralled ribbons between the balloons for added flair. To personalise further, attach photos of the person you’re celebrating.
Once complete, hang the balloon string between two wall hooks for an effortless, eye-catching display.
2. A balloon arch
Balloon arches are spectacular party decorations that don’t require helium. You can easily make one with a handful of materials and equipment:
- Balloons in two sizes and various complementary colours
- A balloon garland strip
- Glue dots
- Wall hooks
- A ball of string
- A pair of scissors
- A balloon pump
The number of balloons you need will depend on the size of the balloon garland you purchase — the packaging should provide guidance.
How to make a balloon arch
Inflate the balloons to about ¾ full for a rounded shape. Begin assembling the arch by pushing the tails of the larger balloons through the holes in the garland strip. Once the strip is full, check for gaps and use glue dots to attach small balloons to the larger ones to cover exposed areas.
When you’ve finished, place three or more wall hooks in an arch pattern where you want the display. Attach thin strings to the balloon arch, forming loops for each wall hook. Hang the arch from the wall hooks and fill any remaining gaps with smaller balloons for a fuller look.
If you’d prefer a free-standing display, use a balloon arch stand and follow the same steps. Fasten the garland to the stand using modelling balloons of a similar colour to the inflated ones.
Watch this video for more details:
3. Floral balloon arrangements
Creating balloon flowers is a fun and easy way to add charm to your décor without helium. These versatile flowers can be mounted on dowel rods or hung from the ceiling and are ideal for spring celebrations, princess parties, or afternoon tea with a garden theme.
Gather these items to get started:
- Balloons in two sizes and colours
- Stiff cardboard
- Dowel rods
- Heavy-duty tape
- A ball of string
- Wall hooks
- A pair of scissors
- A balloon pump
How to make balloon flowers
Start by cutting out a six-inch diameter circle from stiff cardboard for each flower. Cut a small cross in the centre and five evenly spaced slits around the outer edge. Inflate five balloons of the same size and colour for the petals and one smaller balloon in a contrasting colour for the centre. Push the centre balloon’s tail through the middle slit, followed by each petal balloon’s tail through the surrounding slits.
To create standing balloon flowers, fasten a long dowel rod to the back of the cardboard using heavy-duty tape. Place the dowel rod in a gravel-filled pot for a striking display or as a fun photo prop.
Alternatively, skip the dowel rods and string up your balloon flowers using wall hooks. Cover the ceiling with balloon flowers in various colours for a dramatic effect, creating a unique floral canopy.
This video will take you through the process of making a balloon flower:
4. Balloon clouds
A balloon cloud display is a beautiful addition to any baby shower, spring celebration, wedding, prom, or birthday party.
For each cloud, you’ll need:
- 12 x 12″ balloons (white, cream, or silver)
- 10 x 5″ balloons (white, cream, or silver)
- ribbon
- a ball of string
- wall hooks
- a balloon pump
- a pair of scissors.
How to make a balloon cloud
- Fully inflate four of the 12″ balloons and all ten 5″ balloons. Inflate the remaining eight 12″ balloons to about 8 inches in diameter.
- Tie two of the 5″ balloons together, then repeat with another two to form a quad. Do this twice, resulting in two 5″ balloon quads.
- Create two quads using the 12″ balloons inflated to 8 inches. Finally, make one quad with the fully inflated 12″ balloons.
- To assemble the cloud, attach a long length of ribbon to a single 5″ balloon’s tail. Tightly wrap the ribbon around each balloon quad as you compile them in this order:
- One of the 5″ quads
- An 8″ quad
- The 12″ quad
- Another 8″ quad
- The second 5″ quad
- The single 5″ balloon
This layered arrangement creates an impressive cloud effect that will make guests smile. Hang from the ceiling or wall using string and hooks.
For a more detailed visual guide, watch the video tutorial here:
Add fairy lights or mini hot air balloons, birds, or aeroplanes to make a more memorable display.
5. An organic balloon wall
Balloon walls create a striking display that doubles as a brilliant photo backdrop.
There are various ways to build an organic balloon wall, but most people use a backdrop stand, which allows you to place the display wherever you like.
To create an organic balloon wall with a stand, you’ll need:
- a backdrop stand
- a large pack of modelling balloons
- 16 x 17” balloons, plus extra for gap-filling
- 165 x 11” balloons
- 64 x 5” balloons.
To match your celebration’s theme, you might use balloons of one colour, various shades of one colour, or a selection of different colours.
How to make an organic balloon wall
- Make five large balloon garlands, each using four quads of 11″ balloons, with one 17″ balloon added for extra dimension. Attach the quads with modelling balloons to form garlands, ensuring that the balloons in each quad sit between the balloons of the quad below for a fuller look.
- Once all garlands are complete, slot one on each end of your backdrop stand and place two more in the middle. Push them together so they touch and secure them using stretchy modelling balloons to close any gaps and give the structure added integrity.
- Finish the wall by placing the final garland across the top of the stand and securing it like the others.
If you notice any gaps or want to enhance the display, add 17″ balloons in matching colours. For extra texture and visual interest, create clusters of mini quads using 5″ balloons and attach them as needed to complete the look.
Watch a detailed tutorial here:
Why not combine balloon decorations with some balloon alternatives for your next celebration? Read our blog post to discover ten environmentally friendly options.
