Head down Brick Lane on a Saturday and you’ll stumble on vintage wingbacks with cracked leather. They’re rough round the edges, but that’s their story

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs chairs and sofa Sofas Still Rule Vintage sofas just feel more real than anything new. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. It was worn, patched, and squeaky, but it was part of us. During the heyday of Soho, a sofa wasn’t just a sofa. You’d hand down sofas from parents to kids. It’s in the weight of the wood. I dragged a velvet armchair home from Camden. It weren’t pretty at first glance, but the history spoke louder than the flaws.

Friends always fight to sit in it. London’s furniture scene splits by neighbourhood. Mayfair goes glossy, with plush seating. Brixton thrives on colour, with bold fabrics. The clash gives it character. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Old-school sofas grow with you. Every creak is a memory. At the end of the day, retro wins because it’s real. A chair should hold your nights. So next time you’re tempted by something new, take a look at what’s already lived. Save a battered seat, and make it part of your story.