Vintage Armchairs, Accent Chairs, and Sofas: Proper Character for Real Homes Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. The arms were shiny from years of elbows, but it carried memories. Back in the sixties, furniture meant something. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. It’s in the creak when you shift. I found a retro accent chair in a Dalston car boot.

The legs were wobbling, but the history spoke louder than the flaws. That chair still sits in my flat. Every borough in London has its own taste. Chelsea leans plush, with grand accent chairs. Shoreditch stays messy, accent chairs antique with industrial armchairs. Every corner tells a different story. Showroom sofas don’t talk back. Old-school sofas age with dignity. They carry scratches like tattoos. Here’s the thing, retro armchairs will always beat flat-pack. A chair should hold your nights.

So next time you’re tempted by something new, go dig through a car boot. Take home something with scars, and let it grow with you.