Wander Around Camden Lock And You’ll Spot Sofas With Decades Of Life. They’ve Aged In Public But That’s Their Story

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage statement armchairs and art deco style settees Sofas Still Rule Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. The arms were shiny from years of elbows, but it was part of us. Back in the sixties, furniture meant something. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. It’s in the sag of the springs. I dragged a velvet armchair home from Camden. The legs were wobbling, but the weight told me it was the real deal.

That chair still sits in my flat. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Chelsea leans plush, with velvet armchairs. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with bold fabrics. The clash gives it character. Modern flat-pack doesn’t hold a candle. Vintage finds 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. An armchair should hug you back.

Before you grab a soulless bargain, wander a street full of second-hand shops. Save a battered seat, and watch it age alongside you.