It’s not every day that I conduct an interview at a Seder table. And it’s not every Seder table that is adorned with a sea of damask roses and pieces of matzah which double up as place cards.

But I am in the home of Clara Bentata, who started tablescaping before the word became fashionable. Today, she is showcasing some simple, but effective ways to spruce up a Seder table instead of resorting to the usual mismatched knick-knackery which has been collecting dust in most of our lofts since Seder 2021, or even pre-Covid.

For those of us for whom the idea of tablescaping amounts to little more than positioning a knife, fork and spoon correctly, Bentata explains that the concept is “setting the table so you are actually thinking about the objects you are using.”

She has put a modern twist on the flowers in front of me by using rattan vases and turned the matzahs into place cards by icing each one with guests’ names, inspired by Jewish blogger Rebekah Lowin. “It’s just those small touches. They take time and thought, but they’re very rewarding.”

paris-12-04-2019-solo-adventure-6 original

Clara Bentata

While fresh flowers are usually a prerequisite for Bentata, an alternative for Seder is filling pots with parsley (karpas) and then covering them in tissue paper and ribbon. “The parsley has meaning, it’s quite fun and it creates a talking point. It’s also a nice take-home gift.”
Every Seder, she brings out beautiful pieces of Judaica, either heirlooms or wedding gifts, given to her and her husband, Jonathan.

“With tablescaping, there is both the pressure of perfection and the pressure to buy lots of things, and that’s not right,” says the 39-year-old, who lives in Hampstead Garden Suburb. “It’s more about building up a collection over time of things that you love, which have meaning, and then updating them to keep them fresh and modern.”

Bentata, who trained as a lawyer and now works from home as a property manager, recalls that growing up in Northern Ireland, it was always her “job” to set the table. Nowadays, she lays the table for every meal except breakfast, complete with placemats and napkins. “It’s never a question of: ‘Let’s just get a knife and fork from the drawer, put it on the table, grab and go.’”

As well as being “a creative outlet”, setting the table also affords her a moment of quiet meditation. “It’s a time when I’m not at my computer and I’ve got my own space in my mind. There is something so therapeutic about it.”

The mother of 10-year-old twin daughters says that a properly laid table, even if done simply, has a huge impact on the dynamics of a meal. “It encourages everyone to sit down and engage with one another. It’s also a chance to slow down and appreciate the simple acts of the day, which can otherwise be completely chaotic.”

Table manners are also vastly improved when the table is properly set. “Having a structure for the table teaches children how to use cutlery properly and the discipline of sitting at a table. Without a shadow of a doubt, I find that everyone behaves better.”

Clara Bentata parsley table

Parsley makes perfect

This is key at Seder when the long, ceremonious meal can lead to whiney, fidgety children (and, in some cases, adults too). “I think it’s really important that in order to engage children, they have their own child-friendly area.” For less observant families, who may not adhere to the prohibition of writing on Yom Tov or Shabbat, she suggests providing Pesach-themed colouring sheets or a notepad and pen.

All children can be involved in the tablescaping process, be it creating bookmarks which are also used as place names; or covering a motley collection of dog-eared Haggadot in attractive wrapping paper.

“If there’s a colour you like, there are so many amazing wrapping papers to choose from and you can change the paper next year.”

Bentata shares her creations and those of other tablescapers on her blog, the One Design Club.

She has no qualms about copying ideas from other people, calling it “the greatest form of flattery”, adding: “When you’re taking inspiration from other people, you will still put your own stamp on it.”

If tablescaping sounds like a lot of work before a festival which already requires hours of prep, don’t be discouraged, insists Bentata.

“You look at these perfectly set tables in pictures and it can seem challenging to translate that into real life, so the temptation is not to bother. But that misses the point because it’s in the process, the journey, that you start to enjoy yourself.”

Clara’s 10 tips for setting your Seder table

1. Think about your colour scheme. What colours are appropriate and meaningful?
2. Don’t feel you have to rush out and buy everything new. This will be expensive and overwhelming. Use what you have. You will find when you dust and polish your own treasures at home, you will love them even more than you thought possible.
3. When shopping, look at preloved pieces on eBay and in charity shops. I love to pick up treasures for my table when on holiday too.
4. Family heirlooms? Use them! Share stories with your family of the history and meaning behind them.
5. Add personalised elements to your tables and handwrite place cards.
6. Create something that guests can take home as a memento.
7. No table is complete without fresh seasonal flowers. As Pesach falls in spring, you may wish to decorate your table with fresh tulips in your favourite colour.
8. IF you don’t have fresh flowers, think about adding cuttings from your garden or use fruits and potted herbs as table decorations.
9. Encourage children to get involved in decorating the table
10. Choose what you love - follow your instincts and have fun!

www.onedesignclub.com
@onedesignclub