Take a stroll in Spitalfields and you’ll find funky accent chairs in bold fabrics. They ain’t showroom clean, but that’s what gives them life

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. Growing up, unusual settees there was a sofa in our house that had seen it all. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it was part of us. Back in the sixties, a sofa wasn’t just a sofa. Chairs lived longer than flats. It’s in the weight of the wood. I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning.

It weren’t pretty at first glance, but the history spoke louder than the flaws. It’s carried me through late nights and lazy Sundays. Each district carries its own vibe. Kensington loves velvet, with deep sofas. Hackney keeps it raw, with mismatched sofas. It’s the mix that makes it all work. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Retro pieces become part of your life. They’re not perfect, but neither are we. If you ask me straight, I’ll pick a vintage sofa over new every time.

Furniture should live with you. When you walk past a glossy showroom, stop and think of the markets. Grab a vintage sofa, and let it shout London every time you sit.