Walk Through Portobello Market And You’ll See Armchairs Stacked Outside Shops. They Ain’t Showroom Clean But That’s What Gives Them Life

London’s Retro Revival: unusual settees Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for unique armchair years. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. It was worn, patched, and squeaky, but it had heart. In the days of smoky pubs and jazz clubs, furniture meant something. Chairs lived longer than flats. It’s in the creak when you shift. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. The legs were wobbling, but you can’t fake that kind of comfort.

It’s outlasted three flats and two relationships. You can tell the area by the chairs. Belgravia keeps it polished, with velvet luxyry armchairs. Brixton thrives on colour, with funky retro chairs. The clash gives it character. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Accent chairs from another era become part of your life. They’re not perfect, but neither are we. When it comes down to it, a battered sofa tells more truth than any showroom. Furniture should live with you.

Before you grab a soulless bargain, step into a dusty warehouse. Pick up a retro armchair, and see how it shapes your nights.