How To Perfect The Art of Tablescaping

Tablescaping is not a one-size-fits all approach. "It depends," Léa says. "For me, it’s never the same thought process. Except for the important holiday seasons like Christmas and Ramadan, I don’t care much about the season, because we live in Dubai, where the weather is always the same. Really, it’s freedom, because you can use any style you want at any time of the year."

Léa’s creative process often begins with a single object that inspires her – be it a decorative piece, a vase, a plate, a tablecloth or even a flower of the season. Once she identifies her starting point, she adapts the entire theme. "If I really want to use a set of plates, for example, the flowers, candles, napkins, and glasses will be chosen accordingly to fit those plates."

Léa also loves to surprise guests where possible. "If my guests are Lebanese, I won’t go for a Lebanese dinner – it’s quite boring for them, isn’t it? Instead, I think about making it an Indian dinner or a Khaleeji table.”

A self-proclaimed lover of colour, Léa believes it brings happiness to our lives. "To avoid getting it wrong, either go for a monochromatic table – one colour everywhere – or mix several pastel colours together: pink, yellow, green, orange.”  She also advises against using prints unless you are confident about mixing them, as it can be quite a delicate balance. For a safe bet, she suggests choosing seasonal flowers in co-ordinating colours and avoiding the overuse of roses.