Why Retro Furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London I’ve always had a soft spot for retro lounge chairs old furniture. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. The fabric was torn but held together, but it was part of us. During the heyday of Soho, people kept things for unique settee decades. arm chairs for kitchen lived longer than flats. It’s in the sag of the springs. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. 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. London’s furniture scene splits by neighbourhood. Kensington loves velvet, with plush seating. Brixton thrives on colour, with upcycled seats. The clash gives it character. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Retro pieces get better with years. Every creak is a memory. When it comes down to it, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack. A chair should hold your nights. Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, step into a dusty warehouse.

Take home something with scars, and see how it shapes your nights.