How Long Does a DIY Balloon Garland Arch Last

Balloon arches make a great addition to any party, whether for a baby shower, graduation, birthday party, or any other special occasion. Balloon decorations are straightforward to create on your own and, to make it even easier, can be put together before the day of the party. 

How long does a balloon garland last? If kept indoors, away from sunlight, a balloon garland will stay intact with inflated balloons for at least 2-3 days. I've seen them last well over a week. But try to make the balloon garland by the day before your indoor event for the best results.

Direct sunlight and extreme heat are enemies of balloon garlands.

So, if you intend to display the balloon garland or arch outdoors, I would advice waiting until the last possible moment to assemble it outdoors. Of course, the good news is you can blow up the balloons in advance and keep them in a cool place indoors until the day of the party.

Let's get into an easy way to make your own balloon garland to make a big impact for your party.

Jump to:

• Balloon Garland Kits
• How Do You Make a Simple Balloon Arch?
• Conclusion
• FAQs
• Easy Balloon Garland Tutorial

Get more craft ideas for the home and seasonal crafts and DIYs here.

Balloon Garland Kits

If this is your first balloon arch or garland, using a balloon arch kit is the easiest way to make it a success. But I could piece together my kit using items I already had, plus a few more purchases. 

Grab these items to get started:

• Glue dots or tape dots (the tape dots I used came with balloon strip)
• Balloon strip
• Electric balloon pump
• Various sizes of balloons latex (small balloons, larger balloons, as well as several standard balloon size)
• Command hooks (or other removable hooks)
• Fishing line and/or zip ties (I did not need fishing line, but it might be helpful, depending on your arch location)
• Optional: If you want to make your DIY balloon arch a bit fancier, add sprigs of greenery, fresh flowers, etc. when it is completely assembled.

How Do You Make a Simple Balloon Arch?

Here are my step by step instructions to make a basic balloon arch. 

Doing it yourself vs. hiring a balloon artist or balloon business can save a lot of money. Plus, once you get the electric pump, you will have it for your next party and, frankly, for a long time. 

Plan Balloon Colors and Pattern

When creating a balloon arch, the preparation process can be overwhelming, but don't let it be!

With proper planning and execution, you can create an unforgettable balloon arch that will leave your guests in awe.

Decide what kind of design you want for your balloon arch. 

Do you want a classic rainbow color pattern? Or something more unique, like an ombre effect? Or do you need a specific color palate to represent school colors for graduation? 

Try not to overthink it, but you should plan with the color scheme before you get started.

Foil balloons are OK to use in addition to the latex balloons, but I found latex balloons alone to work well.

Related: Dollar Bill Origami for Gifts

What Size Balloons Do You Need?

The most commonly used balloons for making balloon arches are 11-inch latex balloons.

These balloons come in a variety of colors and can be easily inflated. In addition to 12-inch balloons, you can use larger sizes, such as 16-inch or even 24-inch latex balloons.

When deciding on the size of your balloons for a balloon arch, it's essential to consider the space where you will be placing your arch. If your event is in a small room, using large-sized balloons might make it seem crowded and overwhelming. 

But it is a good idea to have at least a couple of different sizes in whatever colors you choose.

Number of Balloons

To be safe, I suggest having a minimum of 100 balloons for a small to medium-sized arch. If you use many of the smaller balloons, you will need more.  

But generally speaking, 100 balloons should be plenty.

A lower number is acceptable if you want a small accent with balloons. Some enjoy just adding a few balloons around a photo backdrop to allow people to take and share pictures from an event.

As you can see, it all depends on how much time you have to create your balloon arch, the size of balloons you are using, and the size of the space where your arch will go.

The first thing I suggest doing when considering the number of balloons is unrolling the balloon decorating strip. Then place the strip where you intend to place the arch. 

The kit I linked here suggested only one balloon per hole, but I tended to tie 2-4 balloons together in one hole. Either would work and be very pretty.

Once your design is in mind, start inflating and tying the balloons.

Blow Up Balloons

Blowing up balloons can be tedious and take a long time, especially when you have many of them to inflate. Also, note a helium tank is not necessary at all!

A hand pump is better than manually blowing up the balloons, but the best way is to use an electric balloon pump, making the process easier and faster. Balloon pumps are simple to use and can be used for years.

Here's a guide on how to use an electric balloon pump.

Make sure that your electric balloon pump is plugged in. 

Then, attach the nozzle of the pump securely onto the balloon opening. Hold the balloon and press the pump's button with your other hand. The air will start flowing into the balloon, beginning to inflate quickly.

As you're pumping air into the balloon, keep an eye on its size so that it doesn't overinflate or burst. 

Once it reaches your desired size, release your finger from the button and carefully remove the nozzle from the opening while pinching it tightly so that no air escapes. 

Tie a knot in the neck of the balloon, and it's ready.

PRO TIP: Stretch the balloon and balloon neck slightly before inflating.

Put Balloons into Balloon Strip

Once you have blown up a lot of the balloons, it's time to start putting them onto the balloon strip.

Next, take a moment to measure the length of your decorating strip, ensuring that it's long enough for your desired size of balloon arch. Cut the decorating strip using scissors to fit this length with extra inches left on each end. 

The two-hole design of this product makes it effortless to assemble. 

Insert the balloon knots into the larger hole and then slide them into the smaller holes for a secure fit. Ensure the knot of the balloon neck is held in the small hole.

I suggest leaving an occasional hole empty to attach the garland with a zip tie if needed, which is how we connected our balloon garland to our deck stairs and railing.

Once it is up, you can use balloon tape dots to adhere to smaller balloons and fill gaps. Once complete, you can shape it however you desire.

Hang Balloon Garland

Whether creating an entire balloon arch or a simple balloon column, hanging it is pretty simple.

Find a sturdy anchor point, such as command hooks on walls or ceilings, to hang the garland indoors. If hanging outdoors, using zip ties or a fishing line to connect the garland to an anchor point works great.

Get creative on your balloon arch location. The balloons make a fun backdrop for party pictures, so make the space accessible if possible.

Some ideas for balloon arch location include a large door frame, around a window, around a fireplace (when not burning), or a large wall. 

If hanging the arch outdoors, consider hanging it from a deck (stairs or railing), columns on a porch, a large tree, a fence, a dessert table, or around a front door.

Add Balloons as Needed

Once your balloon garland is up, you might notice a few places that need filler. 

A simple way to fix this is by adding a balloon tape dot (they come in the kit) to the sides of the balloon and sticking it to another balloon. The tape dots are very sticky and work great to hold the balloons in place.

Adding filler balloons is easy to beef up your garland in minutes, giving you a beautiful and popular party decoration that your guests will love.

Conclusion

I hope you find this balloon garland tutorial helpful.

The gorgeous party garland you create will be the talk of the party! My main advice is to allow enough time, as it can take some time to put together if it is your first time creating a balloon arch.

A balloon garland is an excellent way to add color and excitement to any event. Whether you're celebrating a birthday, wedding, or corporate event, this versatile decoration option can be customized to fit any space and theme. 

With easy-to-find supplies, creating your balloon garland has never been easier. Plus, it's an affordable alternative to traditional decorations like flowers or banners. 

So next time you plan a party or special occasion, consider adding a balloon garland to create a festive atmosphere that your guests will love! Good luck!

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FAQs

The following are common questions related to balloon garland.