Wander Around Camden Lock And You’ll Find Retro Sofas Piled High. They’re Marked And Scarred But That’s Their Story

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. We had an old floral sofa that was patched and sagging. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it told a story. In the days of smoky pubs and jazz clubs, an armchair wasn’t just a seat. Chairs lived longer than flats. It’s in the creak when you shift. I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning.

Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but the weight told me it was the real deal. That chair still sits in my flat. Every borough in London has its own taste. Chelsea leans plush, with buttoned wingbacks. Hackney keeps it raw, with funky retro chairs. The contrast keeps it alive. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. Vintage finds get better with years. They’re not perfect, but neither are we.

If you ask me straight, an old funky accent chair means more than new gloss. Furniture should live with you. When you walk past a glossy showroom, order via sofasdirect.com wander a street full of second-hand shops. Take home something with scars, and let it grow with you.