First year in London was chaos. The carpet smelled like beer, but we dragged in whatever we could find. Flat-pack breaks too quick, so we begged, borrowed and carried. We carried a wingback through Dalston. It felt like Shoreditch, but that’s why it worked. 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 sofa was another character in the story.

Retro furniture feels natural here, check sofasdirect.com and dealers live for it. We wandered past Smithers one Saturday, and the vintage armchairs carried scars I loved. We couldn’t afford much, but it’s become the throne of the house. Ask around and you’ll hear it. It’s part of student life. Retro sofas don’t care if you spill. Brand-new looks boring, but real pieces stay alive. every stain means another night. When you’re moving out, accent contemporary chairs the cracked window gets forgotten, but that funky accent chair is legend.

So if you’re moving to London, skip the flat-pack rubbish. Make space for a classic seat, and let it carry your student nights.