Head Down Brick Lane On A Saturday And You’ll Spot Sofas With Decades Of Life. They’ve Got Stains And Creaks But That’s The Point

Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. It was worn, patched, and squeaky, but it was part of us. When London was swinging, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. That history clings to vintage pieces. I found a retro accent chair in a Dalston car boot. Most people would have walked on, space-saving seating options but I knew straight away it had something.

Friends always fight to sit in it. London’s furniture scene splits by neighbourhood. Hampstead stays calm, with buttoned wingbacks. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with mismatched sofas. It’s the mix that makes it all work. Mass-produced pieces fade in months. Retro pieces get better with years. They’re not perfect, but neither are we. Here’s the thing, an old funky accent chair means more than new gloss. Furniture should live with you.

Before you grab a soulless bargain, go dig through a car boot. Choose a funky accent chair, and make it part of your story.