Have you given much thought to how a balloon can lighten or brighten your day? Balloons are so jolly that anyone will smile after taking a glance at some of the outrageous, tender, or humorous designs on the market today. Whether you're decorating for a baby shower, celebrating a preteen's birthday, or surprising your spouse for a 25th anniversary celebration, balloons add an element of innocent pleasure shaped in odd forms and quickened with bright colors to make any occasion more festive and enjoyable.

Balloons aren't just for kids anymore. Now you can find them at amusement parks, shopping malls, gift and novelty shops, and candy stores. They adorn wallpaper, curtains, bed linens, and even clothing. One can hardly maintain a bad mood or grumpy outlook when stumbling upon a balloon motif in single or plural design. Thematically, balloons bring to mind an airy feeling of fun and frivolity. Carefree and occasionally eccentric, a balloon cluster adds joy to any gathering you might envision. It has become recently popular, for example, to release balloons at the funeral of a child as an expression of the little one's spirit returning to its Maker.

If you would like to consider decorating with balloons, here are a few ideas that might help:

1. Secure several flower-shaped balloons to a small block of wood and place it in an attractive vase as a floral arrangement in place of real flowers. You can find many types of flowery designs for balloons at gift or decorating shops and boutiques. You might want to copy the florists? techniques by mixing real flowers with balloon copycats for a fun mixture.

2. Stash free-floating balloons in the refrigerator, cupboard, bathroom, or closet of a newlywed couple's apartment. Will they ever be surprised upon returning home from their honeymoon! And they will enjoy a special laugh and lasting memories of this playful welcome-home prank.

3. Tie strings to decorous balloons and secure them in each corner of the room that is to be the center of activities for a special celebration. Make the balloons at eye-level or a little higher to ensure that everyone can easily see them. Mix colors or coordinate shades with the rest of the room's d'cor by making them stand out as attractive accents.

4. Make a balloon centerpiece. Select a single or a few balloons to be encased in a coordinating table centerpiece for a joyful effect. For example, at Christmas you can use a cheerful sleigh and Santa made of wood with a small balloon cluster floating out of the toy bag in the back part of the sleigh, behind Santa. Have fun making a creative craft by choosing matching pieces at the local fabric or craft store.

Whatever your next party, give some thought to adding balloons in bunches. Start planning in your mind's eye the room to be used and how balloons might be able to dress up the overall effect for an even more fun time for all.