Wander Around Camden Lock And You’ll Stumble On Sofas With Decades Of Life. They’re Rough Round The Edges But That’s Their Story

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule Vintage sofas just feel more real than anything new. We had an old floral sofa that was patched and sagging. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it had heart. During the heyday of Soho, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. Chairs lived longer than flats. It’s in the weight of the wood. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. The fabric was stained and faded, but the weight told me it was the real deal.

It’s outlasted three flats and retro style sofa bed two relationships. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Hampstead stays calm, with plush luxury lounge seating. Camden loves the clash, accent chairs antique with upcycled seats. London wouldn’t be London without the variety. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Vintage finds get better with years. They carry scratches like tattoos. Here’s the thing, I’ll pick a vintage sofa over new every time. A chair should hold your nights. When you walk past a glossy showroom, take a look at what’s already lived.

Take home something with scars, and make it part of your story.