When I moved to Shoreditch I had nothing but a mattress. The walls were bare, but we made it ours. No student can afford Mayfair prices, so we hunted retro. We carried a wingback through Dalston. It looked like chaos, but that’s what made it ours. Vintage sofas feel alive, and we don’t need polish, we need real. I’ve fallen asleep in a battered armchair with a book, and traditional armchairs every time it felt right. Every warehouse flat tells the same story, unusual sofas and Smithers down in Shoreditch knows it.

My flatmate dragged me into Smithers, and the accent chairs were bold and weird. money was tight, but it’s the pride of the living room. We’ve all dragged furniture through rain. it’s how you build a home. Furniture with scars feels built for students. Brand-new looks boring, accent chairs for living room but funky chairs grow with you. every dent becomes part of the flat. When you’re moving out, you don’t remember the kettle, but the mismatched set still makes you laugh.

When you think furniture, forget the catalogue shine. Pick up a vintage armchair, and let it carry your student nights.