Walk Through Portobello Market And You’ll Stumble On Armchairs Stacked Outside Shops. They’re Marked And Scarred But That’s What Gives Them Life

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule

I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for Highly recommended Resource site a look. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. The fabric was torn but held together, but it carried memories.


Back in the sixties, people kept things for decades. Chairs lived longer than flats. It’s in the weight of the wood.

I found a retro accent chair in a Dalston car boot. Most people would have walked on, traditional armchairs but as soon as I sat down it felt right. Friends always fight to sit in it.

Every borough in London has its own taste. Belgravia keeps it polished, classic armchair designs with plush seating. Shoreditch stays messy, with industrial armchairs. The contrast keeps it alive.

Modern flat-pack doesn’t hold a candle. Vintage finds become part of your life. Every stain has a story.

If you ask me straight, a battered sofa tells more truth than any showroom. Furniture should live with you.

So next time you’re tempted by something new, wander a street full of second-hand shops. Choose a funky accent chair, and watch it age alongside you.