Balloons are a popular party and event accessory and decoration, due to their low cost, bright colours and versatile applications. They are usually made of latex, rubber, nylon, foil or polychloroprene and imposing, floating displays can be designed when they are filled with helium gas.

Balloons can be filled with different gases of even liquids, depending on the application and desired effect. Large party or event displays use a lot of balloons and would be impossible to inflate them all by mouth. For this purpose, a helium cylinder is often used. Helium gas is lighter than air and the display will then float in the air, restrained by their strings or anchored in any appropriate way.

Helium balloon displays must be appropriately anchored, especially in outdoor applications, for they will shoot up into the air when unrestrained and be lost forever.

Helium balloon displays must be made up shortly before the event. The helium atoms are smaller than the latex or rubber atoms of the balloons, so the gas gradually escapes and the balloons become flat and lose their buoyancy in a day or two due to diffusion. Balloons which are especially gel-treated on the inside can retain their buoyancy for a week or longer, but they are also more expensive. Foil balloons are usually also quite leak-proof and can last a long time, but they are also much more expensive than rubber or latex balloons.

Many balloons tied together can be made up into decorative arches. Squared-off balloon displays of alternating colours can be used to spell out company logos and other corporate signage as part of a corporate display or at corporate parties and functions.

There are many types of specialised balloons that are much more expensive than conventional balloons. Some are made up in the shape of animals, cars or, indeed, almost any shape one can think of. The size, too, can vary greatly, depending on the need and intended use.

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