Student living in East London is messy but fun. The walls were bare, but we built it piece by piece. IKEA lasts a term at best, so we bartered with old dealers. Someone even nabbed a table from outside a pub. It looked like chaos, but that’s what gave it soul. Vintage luxury sofas feel alive, and it doesn’t matter if it’s scratched. I’ve balanced takeaway boxes on a mismatched chair, and accent chair and sofa the furniture was part of the night. Every warehouse flat tells the same story, and designers take inspiration from it.

One afternoon I stumbled into Smithers, and the place was full of funky retro chairs. money was tight, but everyone fights to sit in it. We’ve all dragged furniture through rain. It’s part of student life. Accent chairs don’t flinch when four people pile on. Brand-new looks boring, but retro lasts. every dent becomes part of the flat. Looking back after twelve months, you don’t remember the kettle, but the armchair stays in your mind.

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