Walk Through Portobello Market And You’ll Notice Retro Sofas Piled High. They’re Rough Round The Edges But That’s The Charm

Why Retro comfortable home furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. Growing up, there was a sofa in our house that had seen it all. The arms were shiny from years of elbows, chairs and sofa but it told a story. Back in the sixties, retro accent chairs an armchair wasn’t just a seat. You’d hand down sofas from parents to kids. You can feel it when you sit down. I found a retro accent chair in a Dalston car boot.

Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but I knew straight away it had something. That chair still sits in my flat. You can tell the area by the chairs. Mayfair goes glossy, with velvet armchairs. Shoreditch stays messy, with upcycled seats. London wouldn’t be London without the variety. Mass-produced pieces fade in months. Accent chairs from another era last decades. 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. When you walk past a glossy showroom, take a look at what’s already lived. Pick up a retro armchair, and watch it age alongside you.