Life in a student flat starts rough but gets colourful. The windows rattled in the wind, but we gave it soul with furniture. IKEA lasts a term at best, so we bartered with old dealers. We carried a wingback through Dalston. It looked like chaos, but that’s why it worked. Vintage sofas feel alive, and students get that instinctively. I’ve hosted ten people on one sagging retro sofa, and every time it felt right.
Retro comfortable home furniture feels natural here, and dealers live for it. One afternoon I stumbled into Smithers, and everything felt alive, not plastic. we had to haggle, but it’s become the throne of the house. We’ve all begged friends for lifts. It’s part of student life. Armchairs don’t mind if you fall asleep in them. Catalogue gloss falls apart fast, but vintage carries weight. every stain means another night.
After exams and chaos, the stress disappears, but the armchair stays in your mind. If you find yourself in a Shoreditch flat, forget the catalogue shine. Make space for a classic seat, and let it carry your student nights.
