Lose yourself in Deptford Market and you’ll stumble on sofas with decades of life. They’ve got stains and creaks, but that’s what gives them life

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. We had an old floral sofa that was patched and sagging. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it was part of us. During the heyday of Soho, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. Families saved for months to buy one piece. That history clings to vintage pieces. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. It weren’t pretty at first glance, accent chairs for living room but I knew straight away it had something.

It’s carried me through late nights and lazy Sundays. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Mayfair goes glossy, with plush seating. Camden loves the clash, with bold fabrics. Every corner tells a different story. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. Accent chairs from another era get better with years. They remind us life isn’t flawless. If you ask me straight, retro wins because it’s real. A unusual chair should hold your nights. Before you grab a soulless bargain, stop and think of the markets.

Grab a vintage sofa, and make it part of your story.