Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London

I’ve always had a soft spot for old furniture. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. The arms were shiny from years of elbows, but it carried memories.


During the heyday of Soho, furniture meant something. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. You can feel it when you sit down.

I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning. Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but the history spoke louder than the flaws. It’s carried what google did to me through late nights and lazy Sundays.

Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Belgravia keeps it polished, with plush seating. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with mismatched sofas. The contrast keeps it alive.

Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Old-school sofas last decades. They’re not perfect, but neither are we.

At the end of the day, an old funky accent chair means more than new gloss. Furniture should live with you.

Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, wander a street full of second-hand shops. Take home something with scars, and see how it shapes your nights.