Behind the Balloons: Top Event Stylists Share What Defined 2025 and What's Next

The events industry moves fast, but 2025 brought a creative shift that caught even seasoned professionals off guard. From bold colour blocking to architectural balloon sculptures, the year redefined what elevated event styling looks like.

Throughout January, we sit down with leading balloon and event stylists to uncover the trends that dominated their year, the design movements they're championing, and what they're predicting will shape events in 2026. Whether you're planning your next celebration or looking to stay ahead of industry shifts, their insights offer a masterclass in contemporary event design.

From Pantone-inspired palettes to the rise of sculptural installations, here's what the experts had to say about the state of event styling today—and where it's heading tomorrow

Our first interview is with Emma, the creative vision behind Balloon House Academy with a specialism in balloon and floral artistry

Which colour palette or design aesthetic dominated your 2025 events, and did it surprise you?

Across my 2025 work, the dominant palettes were burgundy, lime green, and deep chocolate, alongside strong use of monochrome styling. These colours were often used boldly, either on their own or through clear colour blocking, rather than being softened or diluted.

This didn't surprise me at all. Burgundy is a stunning, rich colour, and pairing it with lime green and chocolate felt completely on point. It tied in closely with the wider design world at the time — Pantone's Mocha Mousse, alongside lime greens, dark chocolate, olive and sage, were everywhere across fashion, catwalks, and editorial spaces. That influence naturally filtered into events, and clients were very confident in embracing it.

What's one trend from 2025 that you hope stays, and one you're happy to leave behind?

One trend I really hope stays is the use of draping, floristry, and bows as part of the overall design, rather than as add-ons. Draping brought softness and movement, bows became a refined statement feature, and florals helped balance stronger balloon structures. Together, they created styled environments rather than single installations.

What I'm happy to leave behind is overly busy or crowded displays. In 2025 there was a clear move towards better balance, cleaner lines, and intentional negative space, which resulted in work that felt far more elevated and considered.

If you had to predict the "next big thing" in event design for 2026, what would it be?

Looking ahead to 2026, I think the focus will continue to shift towards skill-led design, particularly distortion, twisting, and sculptural techniques. More artists are developing their technical ability and moving away from purely organic styles into work that has structure, movement, and form.

With the launch of K-links, I also expect to see more linked and chain-style designs being used. These allow for cleaner lines and more architectural builds, pushing balloon décor further into the design space rather than relying on volume alone.

How did client requests evolve throughout 2025 compared to previous years?

Client requests in 2025 were noticeably more design-aware and trusting. Rather than asking for exact replicas of things they'd seen online, clients were more open to creative direction and wanted cohesive styling that worked with the space, the colours, and the overall atmosphere.

There was also much more confidence around strong colour choices and statement installations, as well as an increased appreciation for craftsmanship and detail. Clients weren't just asking for balloons they were asking for a design.

You can find out more about the Balloon House Academy here stan.store/balloonhouse17

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