First year in London was chaos. The kitchen had a dodgy kettle, but we gave it soul with furniture. No student can afford Mayfair prices, so we hunted retro. We carried a wingback through Dalston. Everything mismatched, but that’s what made it real. Funky retro seating has character, and it doesn’t matter if it’s scratched. I’ve fallen asleep in a battered armchair with a book, and the furniture was part of the night.

Shoreditch is perfect for accent contemporary chairs this life, and designers take inspiration from it. We found ourselves in Smithers showroom, and the accent living room chairs and sofas were bold and weird. money was tight, but that chair still sits in the flat. Every student flat tells the same story. it’s where life happens. Furniture with scars feels built for students. Mass production doesn’t care, but real pieces stay alive. every dent becomes part of the flat. Looking back after twelve months, the stress disappears, but that funky accent chair is legend.

If you find yourself in a Shoreditch flat, leave the glossy showrooms behind. Grab a retro sofa, and let it shout Shoreditch every time you sit.