IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TK MAXX
Easter is the perfect time to gather, host and refresh your home for spring …
For interior stylist Grace Cahill, entertaining begins long before guests arrive with the ritual of preparing the perfect table for your guests. In conversation with THE GLOSS, she shares her expert approach to hosting, from layered tablescapes to styling shortcuts. Grace tells us how she turns to TK Maxx to help – where premium, design-led homeware can be found for incredible value – making your next iconic tablescape more accessible than ever.
Blue tablecloth €19.99, blue pattern plate €8.99 (RRP €11), blue glasses (set of 4) €22.99, pink martini glass €5.99, pink candle €10.99, green vase €12.99 (RRP €22), green napkins (set of 4) €10.99, 24-piece cutlery set €13, Easter bunny decoration €8.99, Easter egg with bow decoration €7.99, mini Easter eggs €8.99.
What’s your favourite part about entertaining? It might be the stylist in me, but my favourite part of hosting is setting the table. There’s something therapeutic about those few hours getting everything ready, layering the house with my favourite scents, styling fresh flowers and adding those small details that make everything feel special. For some people, that’s the least enjoyable part, but for me it’s a feeling – knowing my guests will be welcomed into a cosy, tactile space. There’s a big misconception that hosting is all about impressing your VIPs, but really it’s about making them feel special.
Grace’s look: shirt €39.99, jeans €39.99.
How would you describe yourself as a host? I’m definitely more relaxed than fussy. I’m a shared plates and playlist kind of host, which is how I like to be welcomed myself, so I tend to mirror that. There’s nothing more awkward than feeling like you’re dining in a showhouse, where everything looks beautiful, but no-one feels comfortable enough to touch anything. I love my home to feel curated yet lived in. Thoughtful and beautiful, but never too perfect. You want everyone to feel at home, without the workload.
Lamp €16.99.
What makes the perfect tablescape, in your opinion? For me, it’s all about cohesion between the elements. There has to be a connection between the food, styling and décor or it just doesn’t feel right. I tend to take inspiration from the menu and the season. If the food is light, fresh and airy, that will guide the colour palette and styling. If it’s more comforting and hearty, everything naturally becomes darker and more rustic. The key is choosing a theme and staying true to it, so you don’t end up with a mismatch of food, flowers and colours, which can feel quite jarring.
From a styling point of view, I love a table that feels considered yet relaxed, rather than overly styled. My go-to trick is mixing textures and shapes to make the base layers feel more natural. This often involves an authentic mix-and-match approach to tableware and glassware – something I’ve have done at many events by choosing unique finds from TK Maxx that are perfect for creating the right look.
What trends are you seeing right now? Tables feel a lot more relaxed now, which I really love. Less perfectly matched, more thoughtfully mixed. It also makes sense from a sustainability point of view – you’re using and combining what you have to create the look, not buying more things for a whole new look.
I’ve noticed a lot of statement plates and glassware, which do the heavy lifting when layering a table as they instantly add texture and interest. I also picked up a few sculptural vases that make at-home flower arranging so much easier because they naturally hold shape.
The biggest trend right now is hosting with intention. There’s a fine line between beautiful styling and unnecessary buying. I love a table that feels slightly unexpected – where pieces tell a story. People are always drawn to that more than perfectly matched, brand-new settings. TK Maxx is amazing for that – you can find fun statement pieces to make the whole table feel more personal and less uniform. It’s my go-to for finds that inject personality and a sense of discovery to the table, moving it away from a monotonous look. For these tablescapes, I found pastel coloured serving dishes, quirky Easter décor and some gorgeous floral side plates that instantly add character to the table.
What’s your preferred colour palette for Easter? I tend to switch things up depending on my mood, but softness is always key. I incorporate blush, ivory, mint and accents of blue into my tablescapes. Come spring, I naturally lean towards warm neutrals – tones that feel both fresh and calming.
Pink tablecloth €19.99, pink flutes (set of 4) €19.99, pink cake stand €24.99, white scalloped plates €7.99, white placemats (set of 4) €17.99, blue bowl €5.99, green vase €12.99 (RRP €22), green glass €5.99, green napkins (set of 4) €10.99, candle €10.99, 24-piece cutlery set €13, Easter egg decoration €9.99, mini Easter eggs decorations €8.99.
Do you set a budget when hosting and how do you maintain style without overspending? It’s really about investing in pieces that feel special, but can be used again and again. A beautiful plate, an interesting glass or a sculptural vase can completely transform a table. You can find incredible quality items that become an instant statement at TK Maxx, without paying premium prices either, and then layer simpler pieces around them. Good-quality linen is also a great anchor – much like a great staple piece in your wardrobe. If you invest in fabrics that wash well and build a small collection of colours, you won’t need to keep buying more.
It’s not just about tableware – how does décor play a part? Décor, especially centrepieces, bring the table to life. Your tableware and glassware are the foundation, but the accents are where you can weave in colour and texture, and really have fun with it.
I love using flowers or branches to add softness and layering in small seasonal details like ribbon or twine. Candles are one of the easiest ways to create atmosphere, especially when styled in different heights and widths to create depth. Of course, the TK Maxx candle aisle is my favourite place as there’s always an amazing range of scents and styles, all offering incredible value.
Is lighting important? Lighting completely changes how a space feels, especially when you’re hosting in the evening. I always think about how a room transitions from day to night: lower light makes everything feel more inviting. I love a side lamp to create pockets of light around the room and candles at different heights, so the table doesn’t feel flat. Right now, USB dimmer-switch lamps are trending for all the right reasons and I love the selection at TK Maxx. They’re flexible, wireless and stylish to easily set a mood – once the lighting is right, the whole space speaks for itself.
Can you re-use items year-round? I think that’s the key to hosting in a way that feels authentic. Most of my pieces aren’t tied to a season as it’s more about how I style them. A neutral base always works and then you can shift the theme with details – flowers, embellishments, soft furnishings, even the food! The same plates, glassware and cutlery can feel completely different depending on their pairings. I much prefer building a collection over time of pieces I really love, then reworking them again and again rather than buying something new for every occasion.
Grace’s look: dress €46.99, neck scarf (pack of 2) €19.99, floral throw €36.99.
What favourite pieces have you picked up at TK Maxx? I instantly fell in love with most of the staple pieces on the tabl, particularly the curved plates and bowls, printed glasses and scalloped placemats. I naturally gravitate towards irregular, one-off pieces that make a table feel considered. That’s the joy of TK Maxx – you can find those rare, design-led items for up to 60 per cent less than the RRP – what a win! I’m a total magpie, so I love the unexpectedness of what might be in store.
There are so many styles of wireless lamps to choose from this season that feel like the perfect nod to spring: subtle, thoughtful details that elevate the table without leaning into a full themed moment. Make hosting feel effortless this Easter with TK Maxx. Think timeless staples and standout pieces you’ll use again and again – all designed to help you create an iconic table that you won’t find anywhere else. Discover the latest homeware finds in any one of the 27 TK Maxx stores across Ireland – you honestly won’t want to leave! @tkmaxxie
Grace Cahill is a design and interior stylist and founder of Studio Grace. @studiograce.ie
