Lose Yourself In Deptford Market And You’ll Notice Retro Sofas Piled High. They Ain’t Showroom Clean But That’s What Gives Them Life

From Markets to Mansions: London’s Love for Vintage Sofas and Armchairs Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. It was worn, patched, and squeaky, but it felt alive. Back in the sixties, a sofa wasn’t just a sofa. You’d hand down sofas from parents to kids. It’s in the sag of the springs. I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham. The legs were wobbling, but you can’t fake that kind of comfort.

That chair still sits in my flat. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Kensington loves velvet, with deep sofas. Hackney keeps it raw, with bold fabrics. It’s the mix that makes it all work. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. Vintage finds grow with you. They carry scratches like tattoos. When it comes down to it, a battered sofa tells more truth than any showroom. A sofa should tell your story. Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, accent couch take a look at what’s already lived.

Pick up a retro armchair, and watch it age alongside you.