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

From Markets to Mansions: London’s Love for Vintage Sofas and Armchairs Vintage sofas just feel more real than anything new. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. The fabric was torn but held together, but it was part of us. In the days of smoky pubs and jazz clubs, high-end living room sets people kept things for decades. You’d go second-hand instead of brand new. It’s in the weight of the wood. I found a retro accent chair in a Dalston car boot. The legs were wobbling, but I knew straight away it had something.

Friends always fight to sit in it. You can tell the area by the chairs. Chelsea leans plush, with grand accent chairs. Brixton thrives on colour, with industrial armchairs. The contrast keeps it alive. Modern flat-pack doesn’t hold a candle. Vintage finds become part of your life. They carry scratches like tattoos. Truth be told, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack. A chair should hold your nights. If you’re scrolling catalogue sites, wander a street full of second-hand shops.

Pick up a retro armchair, and see how it shapes your nights.