How to make balloon arches

Balloons are a decoration that can be used in almost any situation due to their beautiful colours, transportability and cheapness. Balloon arches in particular can be a stunning addition to a party or a wedding and the best thing is that they are reasonably simple to make. This article will will show you how you can turn ordinary cheap balloons into a beautiful balloon arch display.

How to make a balloon arch

There are different techniques for making balloon arches, with some using helium balloons and some requiring normal air. If the thought of blowing up all of those balloons gives you nightmares, you can always use small pumps or a compressor to make your job much easier! Making balloon arches with helium balloons There are plenty of negatives to using helium-filled balloons. Helium is more expensive than air, thereby driving the price of your display up. The balloons also have a shorter life and can be difficult to handle. On the positive side, balloon arches are quick and easy to make if you use helium. To make the most structural displays, you may want to consider purchasing a plastic balloon arch which is a long arch of plastic that has holes where the balloons are placed. The plastic is almost invisible, ensuring that the display doesn't lose any of its vibrancy and once each end is secured to the ground, the helium will lift the tube into a natural arch shape. These types of display work best indoors or in a location with very little wind and each pack tends to hold around 12 balloons per foot.

Making balloon arches with air

Air-filled balloons require a fixed frame. PVC pipe or aluminium rods work best for this scenario. Make sure that the arch is secure by fastening it to a wall or a ceiling, or ensure that the weighted ends are broad and sturdy. You might want to consider making bases out of sandbags or other similar materials to keep the arch in place. When the frame is in place, it's time to add the balloons. Do this by inflating balloons in pairs of two and tying the necks together. Cross two pairs of balloons to give you a total of four and then place the cluster against the frame, wrapping the balloons around until they are secure. Do this until the entire arch is covered. Size guidelines To make sure that your arch is the right size, keep in mind the following calculations: - For an arch that is wider than it is tall: Width + Height = Length - For an arch that is taller than it is wide: (2 x Height) + Width = Length