London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. My first memory of proper family-friendly furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. The fabric was torn but held together, but it was part of us. During the heyday of Soho, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. Families saved for months to buy one piece. It’s in the creak when you shift. I found a retro accent chair in a Dalston car boot. Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but as soon as I sat down it felt right.
It’s outlasted three flats and two relationships. You can tell the area by the chairs. Hampstead stays calm, with buttoned wingbacks. Brixton thrives on colour, cool y sofa with upcycled seats. It’s the mix that makes it all work. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Vintage finds last decades. Every creak is a memory. At the end of the day, retro wins because it’s real. Furniture should live with you. If you’re scrolling catalogue sites, take a look at what’s already lived.
Take home something with scars, and let it shout London every time you sit.
It’s outlasted three flats and two relationships. You can tell the area by the chairs. Hampstead stays calm, with buttoned wingbacks. Brixton thrives on colour, cool y sofa with upcycled seats. It’s the mix that makes it all work. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Vintage finds last decades. Every creak is a memory. At the end of the day, retro wins because it’s real. Furniture should live with you. If you’re scrolling catalogue sites, take a look at what’s already lived.
Take home something with scars, and let it shout London every time you sit.
