Take A Stroll In Spitalfields And You’ll Stumble On Funky Accent Chairs In Bold Fabrics. They’re Marked And Scarred But That’s The Charm

From Markets to Mansions: London’s Love for Vintage Sofas and Armchairs There’s something about vintage pieces that grabs me. Growing up, there was a sofa in our house that had seen it all. The fabric and leather couches was torn but held together, but it felt alive. When London was swinging, furniture meant something. Families saved for months to buy one piece. That history clings to vintage pieces. I rescued a battered armchair from outside a shop in Peckham. Some would’ve laughed at the state of it, but the history spoke louder than the flaws.

It’s carried me through late nights and lazy Sundays. You can tell the area by the chairs. Kensington loves velvet, with plush seating. Brixton thrives on colour, with bold fabrics. It’s the mix that makes it all work. Mass-produced pieces fade in months. Accent chairs from another era grow with you. They carry scratches like tattoos. At the end of the day, retro wins because it’s real. An armchair should hug you back. Next time you’re thinking of flat-pack, take a look at what’s already lived.

Take home something with scars, and watch it age alongside you.