Moving into a student flat ain’t glamorous. The flat looked more squat than home, 70s armchair but we filled it with life. No student can afford Mayfair prices, so we searched markets. One mate found a sofa in Hackney. It looked like chaos, but that’s what made it real. Vintage sofas feel alive, and we don’t need polish, we need real. I’ve hosted ten people on one sagging retro sofa, and the furniture was part of the night. Shoreditch is perfect for this life, and shops in the area thrive on it.

My flatmate dragged me into Smithers, and the accent chairs were bold and weird. we left with just one piece, but that chair still sits in the flat. Ask around and you’ll hear it. it’s what makes memories. Vintage pieces survive it. Catalogue gloss falls apart fast, but retro lasts. Every scratch adds more story. When you’re moving out, the dodgy landlord fades away, but the vintage pieces carry the whole story. Next time you walk past a market, don’t waste time on the soulless new.

Choose a funky accent chair, and let it shout Shoreditch every time you sit.