London’s Retro Revival: Why vintage style leather armchair Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule

I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. It was worn, patched, and squeaky, but it told a story.


In the days of smoky pubs and jazz clubs, furniture meant something. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. That history clings to vintage pieces.

I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham. The fabric was stained and faded, but as soon as I sat down it felt right. That chair still sits in my flat.

You can tell the area by the chairs. Hampstead stays calm, with buttoned wingbacks. Shoreditch stays messy, with bold fabrics. It’s the mix that makes it all work.

Modern flat-pack doesn’t hold a candle. Retro pieces age with dignity. They carry scratches like tattoos.

When it comes down to it, I’ll pick a vintage sofa over new every time. A sofa should tell your story.

Before you grab a soulless bargain, stop and think of the markets. Take home something with scars, and see how it shapes your nights.