A balloon column (also a tower or a pillar) is a truly notable party decoration that you can use as a stand-alone composition or as part of a balloon arch structure, a base for attaching a chain of helium balloons, or for creating fountains.
Designers offer really impressive balloon tower ideas (compositions of amazing shapes, with balloons of various colors, shapes, and sizes, decorated with fresh flowers, ribbons, tassels, etc.).
There are two types of columns — the one with a stand (usually installed in the street) and without it (interior balloon decorations).
Let’s find out how to make a balloon column of each type!
What do you need for a DIY balloon column?
For a DIY balloon column with a base, you’ll need the following materials:
- balloons of various colors. What size should be the balloon to make a colum? Well, for creating a tower of 7,3'' height, take 17x11'' balloons in 2 different tones and 52x5'' monochrome balloons;
- the stand, that will protect your decoration from toppling. If you will buy a balloon column kit, it will already include a ready-made column stand);
- balloon sizer;
- an electric balloon pump.
- The things you have to prepare for creating balloon column base and pole:
- a wooden board (blockboard or plywood), 12"x12"x0.8";
- ½” metal pipe flange;
- PVC pole or threaded conduit; its length will depend on the height of your balloon pillar;
- some screws and a screwdriver;
- sandpaper.
To make a balloon column without a pole, you’ll need to have:
- 8x12” balloons of one color, 12x7” balloons of another color и 13x7” balloons of the third color;
- foil balloon;
- fishing net (1,6 - 2,4”);
- helium tank.
Balloon column instructions (with a stand)
If you’re a novice, then it’s better to use the balloon column base: it will help you to create a straight and stable column, and you will save time. Also, there are kits for beginners that include the base and rings that make it easier to put balloons on a pole.
How to make a balloon column stand
Check out if there are no burrs, knots, or rough patches on the surface of your board; clean them with sandpaper, if necessary.
Find the center of the board: to do this, draw two diagonal lines from one corner to the other.
Place your pipe flange in the middle of the board and fix it with the screw. Then, screw the conduit right into the flange. That’s it; your tower stand is ready!
The overall cost of these materials is only $10-15, but you will be able to reuse your stand many times.
Create balloon duplets
Now, inflate four 11 inch balloons of 2 colors (in this example, we’ll use pearl balloons, peach, and white tones). Use the sizer to check the size of your balloons.
Then, tie their necks together (this column cluster is called “duplet”): holding balloon necks in your hands, place one neck on top of the other, and then weave them, stretching them a little and tying into a tight knot.
Having no experience, you might find this routine challenging: your balloons will deflate a little every time you manipulate them. Therefore, you can tie the necks of balloons (you can use thread) and then tie them with each other!
Create balloon quads
Now, tie two duplets into quads simply twisting them through each other once. Note that different colors should be opposite each other. Now, you can string your quads onto the pole of your pillar.
In the same way, create all the other clusters and string them onto the pole one by one, tightly pressing one element against the other.
Create the other column clusters
Repeat all the manipulations; but now, get your balloons underinflated a little (about 8”). Thus, according to the idea, we will create an interesting spiral pattern.
Now, place the bundle on the pole in the middle of the white balloon pair. Keep working from left to right, so each new element rotates 90°.
Create final pillar clusters
Now, inflate 2 pairs of 5-inch balloons, each pair of different colors. Repeat the same actions as in the previous steps, creating quads one by one.
Now place this final element on the pole.
Make finishing touches
And again, take 4 underinflated 11-inch balloons, and repeat all manipulations you performed earlier.
Finally, let’s make the top of a tower: tie a fully-inflated 11-inch balloon to the center of your last cluster. This element should resemble the “crown”.
Make sure that all your tower elements are in their right places; fix some of them a little, if necessary.
How to make a balloon column without a pole?
Beginners may find this method more difficult. The good news is that you won’t need to create a DIY balloon column stand! The column will keep its balance because the balloons fit tightly enough. Just follow our balloon column instructions to succeed!
Create first quad clusters from green balloons
To make a party balloon column, in this example we will take 12-inch balloons of Dark Green, and 7-inch balloons of White and Yellow colors.
First, make your quads: inflate your 12” green balloons and create duplets. Then, twist them together to get the quad. Make another quad for the top of the column.
Create other quads of white and yellow balloons
Next, make six quads using yellow and white balloons. They should alternate in the cluster: yellow-white, yellow-white.
Make a balancing weight cluster
To be stable, the column needs to have a suspended load at the bottom. You can use a 7” balloon filled with water for that. Tie the load to the center of a cluster of 12” green balloons from the bottom.
Start tying clusters to your pillar
Now, tie one end of the fishing line to the center of the same cluster. Start stringing the other clusters on it. To string the white and yellow quad on the line, push the two balloons apart and thread the line through them to the center of the bundle.
Push the quad to its place as close as possible. Slide it along the line to the base of the column, firmly pressing the balloons.
After setting the cluster to its position, swap the positions of the balloons between which the line has passed twice. And then, wrap the line around the 2 quads next to it and tighten the line. Do the same with the following pairs of clusters.
Finish with the column clusters
Fix all 7” balloon clusters. When the bundles are in the correct position, rotate the balloons to create a spiral effect. Each bundle should be in the same plane so that the next one should be adjacent to it as tightly as possible. Press the quads firmly together to keep the column from dangling.
Now, fix the cluster of green balloons. Secure your tower to keep the bundles in this position: just throw the line over one or two balloons from the last cluster and tie it up.
Attach foil balloon to a pillar
Fill the foil balloon with helium. Large foil balloons have a special valve that prevents them from deflation; it’s located near the balloon neck. After inflating the balloon, simply swipe the valve to ”close” it.
Place a piece of the fishing line perpendicular to the foil balloon neck, and twist the neck into the tube all the way to the base of the balloon, so that the line is in the center of the tube.
Now, tie the line to your column so that the tube doesn't come loose. Tie the remaining end of the line around the upper column cluster again and cut it.
Fancy balloon column ideas for making
When creating DIY balloon column decorations, you can use balloons of any color, size, and type. You can experiment with crazy column shapes, decorate them with fabric, fresh flowers, pompoms, tassels, and ribbons.
Today, the possibilities of aero design are truly endless — check out our tips below and see for yourself!
Decorate your balloon tower
How to make a balloon column that turns heads?
Then just ask yourself: “what can I use to make balloon column”? You can make flowers out of balloons and fix them on your pillar, attach paper-cut patterns, butterflies, use beautiful fabric, fresh flowers, greenery, serpentine. The decor can transform your column completely!
Experiment with different types of balloons
Combining round latex balloons of different sizes with twisting balloons, large transparent balloons with confetti, foil balloons, and led balloons works wonders… Your guests will line up to take pictures in front of your creation!
Try different column shapes
Columns can be straight and twisted, narrowing and expanding, organic; they can have arrow up and arrow down, swirl and alternate patterns.
You can create pillars in the form of giant carrots or ice cream cones, Roman columns, torches, street lamps, hydras, fly agaric mushrooms, statues of angels, huge flowers, medieval spears with curved tips — it all depends on your creativity and the idea of your party!
Create Column Compositions
You can connect your columns with the help of garlands (both paper and LED), fabric ribbons, and greenery with flowers. Also, you can design beautiful arches from your columns!
Decorations change everything!
It’s quite difficult to change the world around us, but we can always try to make it better with our own hands! DIY columns can be an excellent gift option, a bonus gift, or an amazing festive decoration element that transforms the interior and creates a festive mood.
Balloons open up almost endless scope for your creativity: you can always use the ready-made instructions - or come up with something new! Balloons Online provides the best balloons for any occasion at prices that make sense. Check us out at balloons.online!
