Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. It was worn, patched, and squeaky, but it had heart. When the East End was full of voices, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. Chairs lived longer than flats. That history clings to vintage pieces. I found a retro accent chair in a Dalston car boot. The fabric was stained and faded, but the history spoke louder than the flaws.

That chair still sits in my flat. Every borough in London has its own taste. Chelsea leans plush, with velvet armchairs. Shoreditch stays messy, with upcycled seats. London wouldn’t be London without the variety. Mass-produced pieces fade in months. Accent chairs from another era last decades. They carry scratches like tattoos. Truth be told, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack. A sofa should tell your story. So next time you’re tempted by something new, take a look at what’s already lived.

Choose a funky arm chair accent chair, and let it shout London every time you sit.