Life in a student flat starts rough but gets colourful. The walls were bare, but we built it piece by piece. Forget glossy showrooms, so we begged, borrowed and carried. I spotted a funky armchair on Brick Lane. The colours clashed, but that’s what gave it soul. Old accent chairs carry memory, and it fits our lifestyle. I’ve watched half my flat pass out across two chairs, and the custom furniture designs was part of the night. East London is built on mix and mess, and Smithers down in Shoreditch knows it.

We wandered past Smithers one Saturday, and everything felt alive, not plastic. money was tight, but it’s the pride of the living room. Every student flat tells the same story. it’s how you build a home. Vintage pieces survive it. Brand-new looks boring, but old sofas age into character. Every scratch adds more story. When you’re moving out, the dodgy landlord fades away, but the vintage pieces carry the whole story.

When you start student life, ignore the fake polish. Grab a retro sofa, and let it shout Shoreditch every time you sit.