decorating

Instant Party! 3 Ways to Decorate with Balloons—No Helium Necessary

Elizabeth Passarella
Elizabeth Passarella
Elizabeth Passarella is the author of the essay collection Good Apple and a contributing editor at Southern Living. A former editor at Real Simple and Vogue, she has spent more than 20 years writing about food, travel, home design, and parenting in outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Parents, Martha Stewart Weddings, Coastal Living, Airbnb, and The Kitchn. Elizabeth grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and now lives with her husband and three children in New York City.
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updated May 12, 2022
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Balloons are one of the most inexpensive ways to dress up a dinner table, and they can be spectacular even without the helium. Why do we save them for birthdays? Let’s decorate for a random Friday night. All these looks require is some balloons, your own lungs, a little string, and, in one case, LED votive candles.

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And none have to look like they were created for a four-year-old. Buy balloons in sophisticated colors that match your tablecloth or dining room decor, and you’ve got something pretty showstopping that costs way less than flowers.

• 1. Ombre Balloons, from Little Green Notebook.
• 2. Upside-Down Balloons, from The Pleated Poppy.
• 3. Blob Votives, from Family Chic.

Related: Balloon Bowls from Good Eats

(Images: Jenny Komenda; Lindsey Cheney; Camilla Fabbri)