Walk through Portobello Market and you’ll see funky accent chairs in bold fabrics. They’re marked and scarred, but that’s what makes them magic

Why Retro comfortable home furniture Still Beats Flat-Pack in London I can’t walk past a retro armchair without stopping for a look. When I was a kid my nan had this battered armchair. It sagged in the middle and smelled faintly of tea, sofa vintage retro but it told a story. When the East End was full of voices, a sofa wasn’t just a sofa. You’d keep the same chair your whole life. It’s in the sag of the springs. I bartered for a sofa on Brick Lane one rainy morning. The legs were wobbling, but the weight told me it was the real deal.

That chair still sits in my flat. You can tell the area by the chairs. Mayfair goes glossy, with plush seating. Hackney keeps it raw, with funky retro chairs. The clash gives it character. New furniture looks dead next to vintage. Accent chairs from another era get better with years. They carry scratches like tattoos. Here’s the thing, retro wins because it’s real. An armchair should hug you back. So next time you’re tempted by something new, take a look at what’s already lived.

Choose a funky accent chair, and watch it age alongside you.