Lucy's list: 33 back to school picks for September

Creative consultant and interiors expert Lucy Williams rounds up the best bits to buy for your house this season

Lucy in her house in west London.

Christoper Horwood

Lucy Williams became a bona fide interiors authority in the summer of 2022 when her house was featured in House & Garden, but for many she needs no introduction. She has built up a loyal following across multiple platforms, thanks to her personal style, which possess that rare quality of being unexpected, but with a familiar, accessible appeal.

Below, she selects 33 things to ease you into autumn.

Henry Holland does the most coffee table-worthy ceramic candles…

and this brown colourway is enough to get anyone excited for autumn.

Studio 50 Scented Soy Wax Candles
A fresh, desk-worthy notebook…

is a September must.

Giannini Firenze Hand-Marbled Leather Bound Notebook
Never have I ever…

had more incentive to be organised.

Anya Hindmarch Home Work A5 Leather Journal
Is there anything nicer…

than a hand written note?

Palazzo Notecard Set of 20
A neat and tidy tray…

for not so neat and tidy desk clutter.

Enamel Printed Tray, pencils
The perfect injection of bold colour…

and soft lighting for darker evenings.

Milagro Lamp by Casa Veronica
One person’s trash is another’s treasure…

but this manages to be both all at once.

The Lacquer Company Lacquered Round Bin
Function and form…

with this personalised laptop case and enough room for all your supplies too.

Nylon Tech Folio
Sunshine everyday…

with this on your bedside table.

Sunny Bowls
Who knew extension leads could be chic…

but Lola's leads have done it.

Fabric Extension Cable, cinnamon
Filing and paperwork…

is more joy than chore with this box file.

Mark Hearld Handprinted Portfolio
No more last minute post office dashes…

with this handy calendar.

Birthday Calendar Poster
It’s an indulgence but…

sometimes we need an incentive for a new-season clear out and clean and this multi-surface spray is refillable and looks lovely on a kitchen island.

Multi Surface Cleaner with Vinegar
A pencil case for…

extremely smart scribes.

Pencil Case in Panama
A must for vintage or antique desks…

or anything with a lacquered finish. These desk mats stop scratching and slipping and they look great too.

Cuero Two Tone Desk Mat, blue and red
I love what Nicola Harding is doing with her furniture brand Nix…

and this desk is classic and contemporary all at once. Its simplicity makes it ideal for a work space in a sitting room or kitchen as well as a study.

Scribble Desk, Coal Black
Almost too smart for an office…

this beautiful leather-covered chair is definitely Zoom-worthy.

Avery Armchair Upholstered
I love a classic vintage desk lamp…

to really ground a work space. They always add a bit of retro nostalgia to a functional room.

Apex 90 Anglepoise Task Lamp
The perfect autumnal palette in Howe’s new Cardamon rug…

It’s a great size for kitchens and smaller spaces too and transitioning them into the new cosier season.

Cardamom Carpet
A fresh school bag…

for those of us who left school a long time ago.

Merci, Canvas Candide Shopping Bag, khaki
Anticipating hibernation season…

with this trinket dish for keys or jewellery.

L&Clay Ceramics I Go Home EarlyTrinket Tray Red and Blue
I can imagine this…

parchment lamp giving off a very cosy glow in the corner of a room.

Findere, Momigami Paper Mini Lamp, Oak
An icon for a reason…
Aluminium Chairs
I love these hanging on the wall…

in a pantry or utility room for a folk-y touch.

Carpet Beaters
Adding extra layers to a bed always marks the end of summer…

and this one is especially pretty

Harvest Block Print Cotton Quilt
These plates remind me of holidays in Greece somehow…

a very welcome reminder as we head into longer evenings.

Poterie Barbotine Marbled Plate
September is for descaling…

our kettles and ourselves.

Fish Loofah
I’m a huge fan of Philip Maltman’s work…

and love that he’s now on Partnership Editions. This piece makes me think of the English countryside in the winter which I love.

'Kitchen Garden 1 1815' by Philip Maltman
Making the most of the last of the cut flower season…

with a beautiful jug.

'Dawn Chorus Large Jug' by Freyja Lee
Working hard calls for…

resting hard too. Make Sunday breakfast in bed a new ritual with this tray.

Foldable Tray with Handles
The countdown to…

Friday cocktail hour starts now.

Multicoloured Pom Tumbler Glass, set of four
I love making a statement of the most functional areas of home…

and these celestial hooks are a very smart home for dog leads, coats and towels.

Star Hook, silver
Stackable, collapsible and colourful…

I find these Hay crates really useful for extra storage and clutter.

HAY Medium Recycled Colour Crate

For more from Lucy Williams, you can subscribe to her Substack here.