How to decorate a Coronation garden party

Arrange bistro chairs around a trestle table dressed with vintage-style accessories, crockery and mugs in a patriotic palette of red, white and blue.

Such a special occasion warrants a new tablecloth – this jaunty red and white striped design, with a pretty ruffle, is easy to make and can be recycled for other red-letter days:

1. Measure the diameter of the tabletop, add an extra 10cm for the seams, then cut out the circle of fabric.
2. Next, to create the frill, cut long strips of fabric, 25cm wide, making sure the stripes run vertically.
3. Sew the strips together to make a continuous length: you will need roughly five times the table circumference.
4. Next, hem the bottom and then sew the top to the circle, gathering it as you go to create the ruffles.
   

A vintage bicycle – or a retro style, like the Pendleton Somerby – draped in union flags adds a nostalgic note to the proceedings.

A homemade gift – such as this packet of wild-flower seeds in honour of the King's passion for organic gardening – will add a personal touch to the celebrations.

To make these seed packet party favours:

1. Fold a piece of A5 ivory card into an envelope by laying the card on a surface in a landscape position. Fold about 1cm up from the bottom, then fold the sides in at 6.5cm.
2. Glue the bottom and back seams together and leave it to dry.
3. Next, fold back the top to make a flap so the packet can be sealed.
4. Taking inspiration from royal imagery, draw your design in permanent pen and paint with watercolours.
5. Finally, fill the packets with wild-flower seeds and seal the top by gluing or sticking down the flap with tape.

Display cottage-garden blooms – such as roses, lilacs and delphiniums – in a riotous hotchpotch of red, white and blue. Add your best china, vintage flags and commemorative mugs to complete the retro look.

A classic Victoria sponge – oozing with fruit-laden buttercream and crowned with homemade miniature flags – makes a stellar centrepiece for a celebratory tea party.

To make the flags:

1. Paint or draw two Union Flag designs next to each other (horizontally) on a piece of card and cut out the long rectangle.
2. Wrap around a cocktail stick and use double-sided sticky tape to fasten the two sides together.

Spruce up a garden bench with a curated collection of blankets, cushions and flowers in the red, white and blue palette.