Fiona Leahy's Christmas table with Soho Home
For style leaders and design lovers.
Thank you for signing up to LivingEtc. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
A former fashion stylist, Irish-born Fiona Leahy has spent the last 14 years travelling the world stagingseriouslydecadent events – from a party in the Doha desert for Damien Hirst, to a week-long influencer event in Mexico for Aerin Lauder.
For Christmas 2019, the Founder and Creative Director of her eponymous event design agency, Fiona Leahy Design, has created a festive tablescape with Soho Homeand gives us the low-down on her seasonal must-haves for a well-dressed table.
Before you begin
Be prepared. I do think having a wardrobe for your table might sound like a funny thing, but just like we have a wardrobe for outfits, having a cupboard with my candlesticks and my bud vases means I can run out and just get some flowers.
I stockpile different colours, I’m always prepared. I have a set of 8 or 12 linens, napkins, tablecloths, I kind of just buy things and have them on standby, it takes a lot of the stress out of it.
Setting the scene
Like a landscape, a tablescape undulates. It has to go up slightly and down slightly, it’s about the eye travelling. There is a symmetry – we would always put candles a certain distance apart and groups of three really work in different heights for flowers, candles and with glasses too.
You don’t ever want to obstruct somebody’s vision, especially for something like Christmas entertaining. You want it to be convivial, you want to be able to talk, you don’t want the decorations to take over, that’s a real pet hate – no-one wants to be talking to flowers!
You need to be able to see people’s eyes, while lit beautifully by candlelight which I think is the most flattering light.
Fiona's five Essentials for a well-dressed table
1. Definitely candles – on this table there’s the Soho Home taller candles and then we have lower tea lights.
2. Flowers – I love flowers.
3. You’ll always see an element of personalisation on my table.If there’s crackers I can scribble people’s names on them or fill snow globes with names.Or we’ve done the trinket jars and we’ve added ribbons with initials, which I love.
4. And colour – I love colour.
5. Another of the elements of all of my tables is fun – you can have a good time, you can pull a cracker, you get your trinket jar, play pass the parcel, all of those things.
Tableware available at Soho Home.
Find timeless Christmas decorating ideas from Turner Pocock here.
The Livingetc Newsletter
For style leaders and design lovers.
Jacky Parker is a London-based freelance journalist and content creator, specialising in interiors, travel and food. From buying guides and real home case studies to shopping and news pages, she produces a wide range of features for national magazines and SEO content for websites
A long-time contributor to Livingetc, as a member of the team, she regularly reports on the latest trends, speaking to experts and discovering the latest tips. Jacky has also written for other publications such as Homes and Gardens, Ideal Home, Red, Grand Designs, Sunday Times Style and AD, Country Homes and Interiors and ELLE Decoration.
-
-
How to plant daffodil bulbs like gardening pros do – and get them in the ground before the end of September
Your complete guide to planting daffodil bulbs, including tips to get the most out of your flowers
By Amy McArdle Published
-
9 of the coziest sofa pillows if your ultimate goal is making your couch comfy yet chic
It’s officially fall, which means the cozy sofa pillows can come out in full force - here’s our list of the best ones to shop
By Valeza Bakolli Published
-
This viral $25 tool will fix the 'broken' bulbs in your Christmas tree lights in a matter of seconds
Broken Christmas tree lights? Fix them instantly using this $25 tool that's taken TikTok by storm!
By Lilith Hudson Published
-
How to set up a Christmas chime for a Ring doorbell, plus other festive hacks to try
Offer a warm festive greeting to your guests this Christmas using this Ring doorbell hack
By Lilith Hudson Last updated
-
The 7 best Christmas flowers and plants to gift loved ones this holiday – and not a poinsettia in sight
If you're looking for flowers or plants to gift for Christmas that florists think you should choose over a poinsettia
By Lilith Hudson Published
-
Have you got your Christmas tree in the wrong place? These experts reveal where it should really go
Should your Christmas tree always go in the corner of your living room? These experts don't think so... Here's all you need to know about your tree's proper placement
By Lilith Hudson Last updated
-
I tried the genius Christmas light hack that's gone viral – it's super easy, and my tree feels so much more magical
If you want a brighter Christmas tree with added depth and dimension, this TikToker's simple lighting hack is the answer
By Lilith Hudson Last updated
-
Black Friday furniture deals: these are the places we're most excited to shop at this year, at up to 80% off
Find the best places to shop for furniture deals this Black Friday, plus a curated pick of the Livingetc editors' favorite discount discoveries
By Hugh Metcalf Published
-
The 7 most common Christmas tree decorating mistakes and how to avoid them
Christmas tree not looking quite picture perfect once it's all dressed? These experts share the most common decorating mistakes and how to fix them
By Lilith Hudson Published
-
It's decided - bauble arches are our favorite Christmas decoration trend. Here's how to make one
A DIY bauble arch this Christmas is a surefire way to fill your home with festive spirit
By Lilith Hudson Published