Lose Yourself In Deptford Market And You’ll Spot Funky Accent Chairs In Bold Fabrics. They Ain’t Showroom Clean But That’s The Charm

Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. Growing up, there was a sofa in our house that had seen it all. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it felt alive. In the days of smoky pubs and jazz clubs, a sofa wasn’t just a sofa. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. It’s in the sag of the springs. I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning.

Most people would have walked on, but as soon as I sat down it felt right. It’s outlasted three flats and two relationships. London’s furniture scene splits by neighbourhood. Hampstead stays calm, with buttoned wingbacks. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with funky retro chairs. It’s the mix that makes it all work. Modern flat-pack doesn’t hold a candle. Old-school sofas become part of your life. They carry scratches like tattoos.

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, step into a dusty warehouse. Take comfortable home furniture something with scars, and watch it age alongside you.