Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. We had an old floral sofa that was patched and sagging. It weren’t showroom-perfect, Check Out Brogue but it had heart. In the days of smoky pubs and armchairs vintage design jazz clubs, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. That history clings to vintage pieces. I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham. 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. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Belgravia keeps it polished, with deep sofas. Brixton thrives on colour, with funky retro chairs. It’s the mix that makes it all work. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. Vintage finds age with dignity. Every creak is a memory. If you ask me straight, an old funky accent chair means more than new gloss. A sofa should tell your story. So next time you’re tempted by something new, step into a dusty warehouse.

Save a battered seat, and let it grow with you.