Head down Brick Lane on a Saturday and you’ll see armchairs stacked outside shops. They’re rough round the edges, but that’s the charm

Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. The arms were shiny from years of elbows, but it felt alive. When London was swinging, an armchair wasn’t just a seat. Chairs lived longer than flats. It’s in the creak when you shift. I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning. It weren’t pretty at first glance, but you can’t fake that kind of comfort.

It’s outlasted three flats fabric and leather couches two relationships. You can tell the area by the chairs. Kensington loves velvet, with grand accent chairs. Hackney keeps it raw, desk chair funky with upcycled seats. The clash gives it character. Modern flat-pack doesn’t hold a candle. Armchairs with scars last decades. They carry scratches like tattoos. Here’s the thing, an old funky accent chair means more than new gloss. A sofa should tell your story. Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, wander a street full of second-hand shops.

Take home something with scars, and let it shout London every time you sit.