London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule I can’t walk past a retro lounge chairs armchair without stopping for a look. 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 felt alive. During the heyday of Soho, an armchair wasn’t just a seat. Families saved for months to buy one piece. You can feel it when you sit down.

I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham. Most people would have walked on, but the weight told me it was the real deal. It’s become part of my story. Every borough in London has its own taste. Belgravia keeps it polished, classic armchairs with grand accent chairs. Camden loves the clash, with funky retro chairs. The contrast keeps it alive. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Old-school sofas age with dignity.

They’re not perfect, but neither are we. If you ask me straight, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack. An armchair should hug you back. When you walk past a glossy showroom, vintage accent chairs wander a street full of second-hand shops. Pick up a retro armchair, and let it grow with you.