Walk Through Portobello Market And You’ll Find Sofas With Decades Of Life. They Ain’t Showroom Clean But That’s The Charm

London’s best retro armchairs Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. It weren’t showroom-perfect, retro style settees but it was part of us. Back in the sixties, comfort accent chairs an armchair wasn’t just a seat. You’d go second-hand instead of brand new. It’s in the sag of the springs. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. Most people would have walked on, but the weight told me it was the real deal.

That chair still sits in my flat. Each district carries its own vibe. Chelsea leans plush, with buttoned wingbacks. Brixton thrives on colour, with funky retro chairs. The contrast keeps it alive. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Accent chairs from another era last decades. Every creak is a memory. At the end of the day, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack. A sofa should tell your story. Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, go dig through a car boot.

Take home something with scars, and see how it shapes your nights.