London’s Retro Revival: living room chair sofa Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. The fabric was torn but held together, arm chairs for kitchen but it was part of us. When London was swinging, a sofa wasn’t just a sofa. You’d hand down sofas from parents to kids. That history clings to vintage pieces. I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham.

The fabric was stained and faded, but the weight told me it was the real deal. It’s become part of my story. Every borough in London has its own taste. Kensington loves velvet, with deep sofas. Shoreditch stays messy, with mismatched sofas. The clash gives it character. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Old-school sofas age with dignity. They carry scratches like tattoos. If you ask me straight, retro armchairs vintage design will always beat flat-pack.

Your seat should outlast the years. Before you grab a soulless bargain, wander a street full of second-hand shops. Take home something with scars, and see how it shapes your nights.