London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. The arms were shiny from years of elbows, accent chairs for living room but it was part of us. During the heyday of Soho, furniture meant something. Families saved for months to buy one piece. It’s in the weight of the wood. I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning.

Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but I knew straight away it had something. It’s outlasted three flats and two relationships. Every borough in London has its own taste. Belgravia keeps it polished, unusual armchairs with buttoned wingbacks. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with bold fabrics. Every corner tells a different story. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Accent chairs and sofa from another era last decades. They remind us life isn’t flawless. At the end of the day, retro wins because it’s real.

An armchair should hug you back. So next time you’re tempted by something new, stop and think of the markets. Choose a funky accent chair, and make it part of your story.