Pastel Balloons: Everything You Need to Know About These Dreamy Party Decorations

Pastel Balloons: Everything You Need to Know About These Dreamy Party Decorations

Pastel balloons have completely taken over my party planning life, and I’m not even mad about it.

You know that feeling when you walk into a celebration and everything just feels… soft? Calming? Instagram-worthy without trying too hard?

That’s the magic of pastel balloons.

I’ve been decorating parties for years now, and I can tell you that nothing transforms a space quite like these gentle-hued beauties.

Let me walk you through everything I’ve learned about working with these gorgeous decorations.

What Exactly Are Pastel Balloons?

Pastel balloons are soft-colored latex balloons that come in those dreamy, muted shades we all love.

Think light pink that reminds you of cotton candy, baby blue like a clear spring sky, mint green, buttery yellow, lavender purple, and peachy tones that make everything look like a sunset.

These aren’t your bold, primary-colored party balloons from childhood birthday parties.

They’re opaque (not see-through), which gives them that sophisticated look that works for literally any celebration.

I remember the first time I used them for my niece’s baby shower – guests kept asking where I’d bought them because they looked “expensive” and “professional.”

Spoiler alert: they weren’t expensive at all.

Where to Buy Pastel Balloons (And What You’ll Actually Pay)

Let me save you the headache I went through when I first started hunting for these.

Standard Size Options

The most common sizes you’ll find are:

• 5-inch balloons – Perfect for filling in gaps or creating fuller garlands
• 11-inch balloons – The sweet spot for most decorations
• 10-12 inch balloons – Great for bouquets and centerpieces

Bulk packs range from 12 pieces (for small projects) up to 100 pieces when you’re going all out.

I always buy more than I think I need because trust me, a few will pop during inflation, and you’ll want extras for last-minute additions.

You can grab pastel latex balloons in various pack sizes to match your project needs.

Giant Statement Balloons

Here’s where things get fun.

36-inch pastel balloons are absolute showstoppers.

I used three of these at my best friend’s bridal shower – one in blush pink, one in mint, and one in lavender – and they became the focal point of our photo backdrop.

Everyone wanted pictures with them.

These giant pastel balloons come in individual colors, so you can mix and match however you want.

Pre-Made Garlands (For When You’re Short on Time)

Look, I get it.

Sometimes you don’t have three hours to hand-tie 50 balloons together.

Pre-assembled balloon garlands with 50+ pastel balloons come ready to hang.

You literally take them out of the package and put them up.

I’ve used these when I was juggling too many things, and honestly? No one could tell the difference between these and my hand-made ones.

The pastel balloon garland kits usually run around $45 and up, which sounds like a lot until you calculate the time you’re saving.

Where to Shop

Target and Walmart are my go-to spots for last-minute purchases.

Standard packs start around $2-$4, which is ridiculously affordable.

For larger garland kits, expect to pay $45 and up depending on how elaborate they are.

I’ve found that shopping online gives you way more color variety, though.

My Secret Trick: Making Custom Pastel Balloons at Home

Here’s something most people don’t know.

You can create custom pastel shades by placing one colored balloon inside another balloon of a different color.

I discovered this hack completely by accident when I was desperate to match a specific shade of peach for a spring party.

The craft store didn’t have it, so I experimented.

Here’s How It Works:

Materials needed:

• Two balloons in different colors
• About one minute of your time per balloon
• Patience (it’s a bit fiddly at first)

The process:

1. Stretch out both balloons first – this makes everything easier.
2. Take your first balloon and blow it up slightly, then let the air out.
3. Carefully insert the second uninflated balloon inside the first one.
4. Inflate the inner balloon to your desired size.
5. Tie it off while it’s still inside the outer balloon.
6. Carefully stretch the outer balloon over the inner one.

The colors blend together to create a completely custom pastel shade.

Why I love this technique:

• No special materials needed beyond basic balloons
• Complete color customization
• You can create ombre effects by mixing your homemade pastels with store-bought ones
• It’s actually kind of therapeutic once you get the hang of it

I once made an entire rainbow garland using this method, graduating from pale pink to lavender by layering different combinations.

The balloon hand pump I use makes this process so much easier than blowing them up manually (save your breath, literally).

What Can You Actually Do With Pastel Balloons?

The possibilities are honestly endless, but here are the ways I use them most often:

Balloon Walls

These make incredible photo backups.

I created one for my sister’s graduation party using about 200 pastel balloons in varying sizes.

Everyone spent the entire party taking photos in front of it.

Balloon Arches

The classic entrance decoration.

I’ve made these for doorways, dessert tables, and even as a ceremony backdrop for a small wedding.

Garlands

More organic and flowing than arches.

These work beautifully draped across mantels, stair railings, or along walls.

The balloon decorating strip makes creating professional-looking garlands stupid easy.

Centerpieces

Clusters of 3-5 pastel