From Markets to Mansions: London’s Love for Vintage Sofas and Armchairs Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. The family armchair was covered in throws but still solid. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, but it was part of us. In the days of smoky pubs and jazz clubs, a sofa wasn’t just a sofa. Chairs 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 the weight told me it was the real deal. It’s carried me through late nights and lazy Sundays. Furniture in London shifts with the postcode. Hampstead stays calm, explore sofasdirect.com with velvet armchairs. Dalston keeps it cheeky, with funky retro chairs. London wouldn’t be London without the variety. Modern flat-pack doesn’t hold a candle. Old-school sofas become part of your life. They remind us life isn’t flawless. At the end of the day, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack.

An armchair should hug you back. Before you grab a soulless bargain, stop and think of the markets. Save a battered seat, and watch it age alongside you.