Student living in East London is messy but fun. The flat looked more squat than home, but we gave it soul with furniture. IKEA lasts a term at best, so we searched markets. We carried a wingback through Dalston. The colours clashed, but that’s why it worked. Chairs with scars feel stronger, and we care more about story than gloss. I’ve crashed into a leather sofa after a night out, and the chairs became mates. Markets spill chairs onto the streets, and Smithers down in Shoreditch knows it.

My flatmate dragged me into Smithers, and everything felt alive, not plastic. We couldn’t afford much, luxury sofas but that chair still sits in the flat. Ask around and you’ll hear it. it’s half the fun. Furniture with scars feels built for comfort accent chairs students. Flat-pack won’t last a term, but vintage carries weight. every wobble tells the truth. When you’re moving out, the cracked window gets forgotten, but that funky accent chair is legend. So if you’re moving to London, skip the flat-pack rubbish.

Grab a retro sofa, and make it part of your story.