Head down Brick Lane on a Saturday and you’ll stumble on armchairs stacked outside shops. They’ve got stains and creaks, but that’s what gives them life

Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London Vintage sofas just feel more real than anything new. Growing up, there was a sofa in our house that had seen it all. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it told a story. When the East End was full of voices, an armchair wasn’t just a seat. Chairs lived longer than flats. That history clings to vintage pieces. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. Most people would have walked on, but I knew straight away it had something.

It’s carried me through late nights and lazy Sundays. Every borough in London has its own taste. Chelsea leans plush, unusual armchairs uk with deep sofas. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with bold fabrics. It’s the mix that makes it all work. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. Vintage finds grow with you. Every stain has a story. When it comes down to it, a battered sofa tells more truth than any showroom. An armchair should hug you back.

Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, old fashioned armchair stop and accent chairs antique think of the markets. Save a battered seat, and let it shout London every time you sit.