London’s Retro Revival: traditional armchairs Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule I’ve always had a soft spot for old furniture. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. It was worn, patched, and squeaky, but it was part of us. When London was swinging, furniture meant something. You’d go second-hand instead of brand new. It’s in the weight of the wood. I found a retro accent chair in a Dalston car boot. Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, space-saving seating options but I knew straight away it had something.

Friends always fight to sit in it. Every borough in London has its own taste. Hampstead stays calm, with grand accent chairs. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with industrial armchairs. Every corner tells a different story. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Armchairs with scars last decades. Every stain has a story. Here’s the thing, an old funky accent chair means more than new gloss. An armchair should hug you back.

When you walk past a glossy showroom, wander a street full of second-hand sofa vintage retro shops. Save a battered seat, and see how it shapes your nights.