While the evenings are warm enough to spend outside, September is also a month of new beginnings with a back-to-school feel. From candy stripes to Pooky x Collaborative Craft Projects, check out the things that Good Homes are loving this month…

1. Evenings al fresco

Make the most of the late summer weather with a sheltered outdoor seating area. Create a cosy vibe with festoon light and lanterns, bringing in toasty throws and a firepit at sunset.

Pictured: Pair of Colwell armchairs, £900 per pair; Colwell 2 Seater sofa, £950; Colwell Coffee table, £250; Eshott linen cushion covers, from £20; Hampnett cushion, £25; Islay rug, from £120; Adlestrop lantern, from £22; Mayfield tray, £36; Ribbed vase, £35; Set of 4 Berkeley gin glasses, £40; Set of 4 Berkeley tall tumblers, £30; 10m outdoor wire lights, £12; Wire lights curtain, £35; Festoon classic lights, £70, all Gardentrading.co.uk

2. Candy stripes

Stripes are timeless, but give them an update with a fresh candy stripe, think candy-floss pink, mint green or baby blue or liven it up with come colour, like these gorgeous Calypso Beni bags from The Braided Rug Company Handmade in Bangladesh, they’re 100% jute and come in two sizes with a magnetic fastener. Prices from £30.

3. Collaborative Craft Projects for Pooky

One of our favourite lighting brands, Pooky, has joined forced with basket makers Collaborative Craft Projects to create a collection of beautiful pendant shades. Each of the four designs has been handwoven by artisan craftswomen in Zimbabwe, using Ilala palm, which is grown and harvested locally. With curvy, organic shapes inspired by handcrafted baskets, we love the effect the natural weave creates on the walls of a room. From £75 for a shade and £25 for a pendant kit, Pooky.com.

4. ‘Rescued’ coffee

Set up by two friends shocked by the amount of waste in the coffee industry, the Odd Coffee Co rescues surplus Nespresso-compatible pods from a huge range of specialist coffee roasters, repackaging them into ‘lucky dip’ boxes for a coffee-making experience that’s fun as well as sustainable. Available in packs of 100 for £27.95, there are four different flavour and strength mixes to choose from. Pods not your thing? They also sell rescued coffee beans and ground coffee, too.

5. Planet-friendly cleaning products

Wannabe more eco-friendly? Spice up your kitchen with the new range of refillable, natural cleaning products from Kit & Kin – a family eco-brand founded by none other than former Spice Girl, Emma Bunton. Including 12 different products from dishwashing liquid to multi-surface cleaners, with good-looking reusable bottles and refill pouches, the formulas all use the power of plants rather than harsh chemicals.

6. Celebrating the Herbert Parkinson textile factory

Making a staggering 340,000 cushions, 130,000 pillows and 30,000 duvets a year, as well as bespoke made-to-order curtains and blinds, John Lewis’ very own Herbert Parkinson textile factory in Lancashire celebrates its seventieth anniversary this year. Impressive!

7. Sustainable kitchen updates

Stylish handle company Plank have created a range of handles in sustainable aluminium, which uses 60% less carbon emissions than brass, and can be recycled at the end of its life. Available in mottled aluminium or black, starting from £7.95 per handle, they’re a stylish, sustainable way to update your kitchen cupboards.

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MORE LATE SUMMER INSPIRATION

• 15 easy garden update ideas
• Spotlight on bathroom decorating
• How to add pattern: finishing touches

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