They spice up the environment of any party or occasion, but how many balloons do you need for a garland?
With a balloon garland, the sky really is the limit. You can have a small garland consisting of a few dozen balloons, or a massive affair that’s built with over two hundred – or more! It depends on the size, shape, budget, and desired effect of the garland.
Read on to learn more about beautiful balloon garlands and how they’re built.
Blowing Up
Balloons have come a long way since their invention in 1824. They’ve become a staple decoration for parties and celebrations all over the world.
When you think literally of a balloon, it might seem like a strange decoration. After all, it’s a latex or rubber ball filled with exhaled breath – that sounds weird, right?
Regardless of that fact, it’s a true statement that balloons light up almost any event. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday, or anniversary, they’re often found in many shapes, sizes, and colors, all across the venue.
The balloon itself has a considerably storied legacy and background. They were first manufactured in the United States at the turn of the twentieth century.
After that point, they began to expand in popularity. They were modified in the twenties and produced in a tube or ‘sausage’ shapes, which some individuals would contort, creating balloon animals.
In the seventies, foil balloons were invented, offering more durability and a longer-lasting balloon.
Somewhere along the way, a designer had the idea of linking many balloons together to create a garland. These extravagant and appealing designs would become a feature piece for many events to come.
They transitioned away from simple birthday parties and weddings and saw use in corporate events and premieres. It was so easy to add a touch of color and branding to a venue – simply link together a couple of hundred balloons and you were set.
Goodness Garland
What makes a garland really fantastic is that you can create them in the comfort of your own home. All you’ll need is a balloon inflater, tape, hooks, and the balloons themselves.
You simply inflate the balloons, tape them together, and hang them to the wall. You can use Command strips or hooks to secure the garland to a wall with ease.
Some people will use glue to attach the balloons or string them all together. There are some designers that build the garland around a wireframe, particularly if it’s free-standing.
On designdazzle.com, one balloon artist explains the amount required for a substantial garland. They state that for an eight-foot by two-foot wide garland, they used sixteen 11-inch balloons and fifty 3-inch balloons.
Of course, there’s no limit to the kind or amount of balloons you can use. If you want to use three hundred balloons, then go right ahead.
You might need to build a huge arch, which you can do with ease. It might be time-consuming, but it’s certainly feasible.
One website offers a “balloon arch calculator”, a handy service that aids you in the creation of a wonderful, inflated arch.
While you can of course purchase some extremely luxurious balloons, you can make do with the cheapest of packs. The entire arch might only cost you a few dollars.
Although, some of the finest balloons are super-long lasting, durable, and made with resistant materials. They’re printed with custom designs, and some can even feature lights.
There are some balloons that come filled with assorted items. They’re transparent and can be filled with confetti or glitter.
If you pop these balloons, the effect can be quite spectacular. Some balloons even come filled with smaller, spherical balloons – these are called ‘gumball’ balloons.
Balloons Beware
In the twenty-first century, people began speculating on the damage that balloons can cause to the environment. For example, there were claims that discarded or escaped balloons could end up being eaten by animals and sea life.
There were also allegations made regarding the materials used in the construction of balloons. They’re made up primarily of chemically-treated latex, meaning they’re not biodegradable.
Environmentalists reportedly compiled a list of alternatives to the ever-popular “balloon release” event. At these events, huge numbers of helium balloons are released, often with notes attached, to see how far they travel.
It’s likely they won’t be making a dent in the popularity of balloons any time soon, though.