Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London Retro luxury chairs uk and sofas have been part of my life for years. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. It weren’t showroom-perfect, but it felt alive. During the heyday of Soho, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. Chairs lived longer than flats. It’s in the sag of the springs. I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning. Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but as soon as I sat down it felt right.

Friends always fight to sit in it. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Mayfair goes glossy, with deep sofas. Camden loves the clash, with bold fabrics. Every corner tells a different story. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. Retro pieces grow with you. They remind us life isn’t flawless. When it comes down to it, I’ll pick a vintage sofa over new every time. A sofa should tell your story. If you’re scrolling catalogue sites, go dig through a car boot.

Take home something with scars, and make it part of your story.