Take A Stroll In Spitalfields And You’ll Find Armchairs Stacked Outside Shops. They’re Marked And Scarred But That’s The Point

From Markets to Mansions: London’s Love for Vintage Sofas and Armchairs I’ve always had a soft spot for old furniture. My first memory of proper furniture is my grandad’s wingback chair. The fabric was torn but held together, but it felt alive. When London was swinging, an armchair wasn’t just a seat. You’d go second-hand instead of brand new. You can feel it when you sit down. I once pulled a Chesterfield out of a warehouse in Hackney. Most people would have walked on, but the history spoke louder than the flaws.

Friends always fight to sit in it. London’s furniture scene splits by neighbourhood. Hampstead stays calm, with velvet armchairs. Shoreditch stays messy, with bold fabrics. The clash gives it character. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Retro pieces last decades. They’re not perfect, but neither are we. If you ask me straight, retro wins because it’s real. An armchair should hug you back.

Before you grab a soulless bargain, wander a street full of second-hand shops. Pick up a retro style settees armchair, and let it shout London every time you sit.