London’s Retro Revival: accent sofa Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule I’ve always had a soft spot for old modern living room furniture. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. The arms were shiny from years of elbows, but it told a story. When London was swinging, an armchair wasn’t just a seat. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. It’s in the weight of the wood. I dragged a velvet armchair home from Camden. It weren’t pretty at first glance, but the weight told me it was the real deal.

That chair still sits in my flat. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Kensington loves velvet, with velvet armchairs. Shoreditch stays messy, with bold fabrics. London wouldn’t be London without the variety. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Accent chairs from another era grow with you. They carry scratches like tattoos. At the end of the day, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack. A sofa should tell your story. When you walk past a glossy showroom, wander a street full of second-hand shops.

Grab a vintage sofa, and see how it shapes your nights.