Home Help: 29 June

Dining out on the patio when evening shadows fall? Let there be light, says Hugh St Clair, with these illuminating suggestions
In previous Home Help columns I've written about where to get beautiful picnicware and jugs to fill with cooling drinks, but it isn't much good if, as the sun goes down on a perfect day, you can't see the plate, or you're being attacked by midges. To keep away the flying insects there are citronella candles in little tin tubs. Dunelm Mill (90 outlets nationwide), for instance, offers 30 citronella candles for £2.49.

And if you need a large quantity of candles – for a party, for example – glass tea lights in the shape of flowers, and square tea-light holders can be found for less than £2 each, also at Dunelm Mill.

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Nordic Style, an online shop, has eye-catching tea-light holders in pierced metals to add style to the table (from £14.25). OKA sells candleholders that prevent candles from blowing out in a draught. These stunning tablecentre pieces (from £75) are composed of a wooden base on which a fat church candle can be placed and protected from a breeze by a removable glass cylinder. Ikea offers a more inexpensive option – brightly coloured steel and glass hanging lanterns from £2.99 each (instore only).

You can find pillar or church candles, priced from £2.99 at the Cargo chain of homeaccessory shops (45 stores countrywide) as well as tea lights (50 for £2.99) and hanging lanterns, priced from £4.99 each.

Tesco sells pillar candles in ivory (£3), or decorated with leopard print (£5.25). Tesco glass tea-light holders (£5.25 for three) also come adorned with zebra and tiger stripes for an African vibe. Your local branch may not stock them, so 5 check online at Tesco Direct.

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Clockwise from left

1 Rotera lantern for tea light, £2.99, Ikea: www.ikea.com

2 Key Lime Colletion rose tea light holder, £1.99, Dunelm Mill: 0845-165 6565, www.dunelm-mill.com

3 Stainless-steel lantern – square, £31.95, Nordic House: 0845-475 1610, www.nordichouse.co.uk

4 Candleholder (brass), £36, OKA: 0844-815 7380, www.okadirect.com

 

5 Mini tea light lanterns, £4.95 each, Nordic House: as before (pictured in tree)

6 Lanterns and tea-light holders, from £3.99, Cargo: 0844-848 3300, www.carghomeshop.com (pictured on table)

Email your design enquiries to Hugh St Clair at homehelp@lady.co.uk