Life in a student flat starts rough but gets colourful. The walls were bare, 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. Nothing matched the walls, but that’s what made it real. Funky retro seating has character, http://www.hptech.co.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=04_order&wr_id=426785 and it doesn’t matter if it’s scratched. I’ve crashed into a leather sofa after a night out, and those seats carried us.

Retro furniture feels natural here, and shops in the area thrive on it. My flatmate dragged me into Smithers, and the vintage armchairs carried scars I loved. we were broke students, but everyone fights to sit in it. We’ve all begged friends for lifts. it’s where life happens. Accent chairs don’t flinch when four people pile on. Flat-pack won’t last a term, but old sofas age into character. every creak is another laugh.

Looking back after twelve months, the cracked window gets forgotten, but you remember the sofa. When you think furniture, skip the flat-pack rubbish. Take home something with scars, and watch it age with you.