Head down Brick Lane on a Saturday and you’ll stumble on funky accent chairs in bold fabrics. They’ve got stains and creaks, but that’s their story

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and accent chairs Sofas Still Rule Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. It weren’t showroom-perfect, but it carried memories. During the heyday of Soho, furniture meant something. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. It’s in the sag of the springs. I found a retro accent chair in a Dalston car boot.

Most people would have walked on, home seating solutions but the history spoke louder than the flaws. It’s carried me through late nights and lazy Sundays. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Belgravia keeps it polished, with velvet armchairs. Camden loves the clash, with upcycled seats. The clash gives it character. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Armchairs with scars get better with years. Every creak is a memory. Truth be told, a battered sofa tells more truth than any showroom.

An armchair should hug you back. So next time you’re tempted by something new, take a look at what’s already lived. Pick up a retro armchair, and let it shout London every time you sit.