First year in London was chaos. The kitchen had a dodgy kettle, but we dragged in whatever we could find. Forget glossy showrooms, so we bartered with old dealers. I spotted a funky armchair on Brick Lane. It felt like Shoreditch, but that’s what made it home. Old accent chairs carry memory, and it fits our lifestyle. I’ve crashed into a leather armchair green sofa after a night out, and the furniture was part of the night. Every warehouse flat tells the same story, and designers take inspiration from it.

We wandered past Smithers one Saturday, and the accent chairs were bold and weird. we were broke students, but everyone fights to sit in it. We’ve all begged friends for lifts. it’s where life happens. Armchairs don’t mind if you fall asleep in them. Modern stuff? Forget it, unusual chairs uk but vintage carries weight. every wobble tells the truth. By the end of the year, you don’t remember the kettle, but you remember the sofa.

When you start student life, forget the catalogue shine. Choose a funky accent chair, and let it carry your student nights.