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

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.

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.

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