Take A Stroll In Spitalfields And You’ll Spot Sofas With Decades Of Life. They’re Rough Round The Edges But That’s Their Story

Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. Growing up, space-saving seating options there was a sofa in our house that had seen it all. The arms were shiny from years of elbows, but it had heart. In the days of smoky pubs and jazz clubs, an armchair wasn’t just a seat. You’d go second-hand instead of brand new. You can feel it when you sit down. I dragged a velvet armchair home from Camden.

It weren’t pretty at first glance, quirky sofas but the weight told me it was the real deal. That chair still sits in my flat. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Hampstead stays calm, with buttoned wingbacks. Camden loves the clash, with industrial armchairs. It’s the mix that makes it all work. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Accent chairs from another era get better with years. Every stain has a story. Here’s the thing, I’ll pick a vintage sofa over new every time. Your seat should outlast the years.

So next time you’re tempted by something new, wander a street full of second-hand shops. Save a battered seat, and let it grow with you.