When I moved to Shoreditch I had nothing but a mattress. The kitchen had a dodgy kettle, bedroom chair vintage but we built it piece by piece. New furniture is soulless, so we searched markets. Someone even nabbed a table from outside a pub. Everything mismatched, but that’s what made it real. Old accent chairs carry memory, and it doesn’t matter if it’s scratched. I’ve balanced takeaway boxes on a mismatched chair, and the sofa was another character in the story. Shoreditch is perfect for this life, accent settee and designers take inspiration from it.

My flatmate dragged me into Smithers, and the sofas looked like they belonged in films. money was tight, but it’s become the throne of the house. We’ve all shoved sofas through windows. it’s how you build a home. Retro sofas don’t care if you spill. Flat-pack won’t last a term, but retro lasts. every wobble tells the truth. When you’re moving out, the dodgy landlord fades away, but the armchair stays in your mind. When you think furniture, don’t waste time on the soulless new.

Choose a funky accent chair, luxury lounge seating and see how it shapes your memories.