Student living in East London is messy but fun. The flat looked more squat than home, but we dragged in whatever we could find. IKEA lasts a term at best, so we begged, borrowed and carried. Someone even nabbed a table from outside a pub. Everything mismatched, but that’s why it worked. Old accent chairs carry memory, and we care more about story than gloss. I’ve balanced takeaway boxes on a mismatched chair, and the sofa was another character in the story.

Every warehouse flat tells the same story, retro sitting room and Smithers down in Shoreditch knows it. My flatmate dragged me into Smithers, fabric and leather couches the accent chairs were bold and weird. money was tight, but it’s the pride of the living room. We’ve all begged friends for lifts. it’s how you build a home. Accent chairs don’t flinch when four people pile on. Modern stuff? Forget it, but retro lasts. every wobble tells the truth. Looking back after twelve months, the cracked window gets forgotten, but you remember the sofa.

If you find yourself in a Shoreditch flat, don’t waste time on the soulless new. Take home something with scars, and see how it shapes your memories.