Settees
Late 20th Century French Louis XVI Settees
Cotton, Upholstery, Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Upholstery, Ash, Rosewood
1980s American Victorian Vintage Settees
Velvet, Wood
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Leather
1980s American Modern Vintage Settees
Bouclé, Upholstery
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Down, Silk, Beech
Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Settees
Fabric, Walnut
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Wood
1980s Italian Vintage Settees
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Leather, Wood
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Settees
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Brass
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Settees
Ash
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Settees
Walnut
18th Century Spanish Antique Settees
Pine
20th Century Adam Style Settees
Fabric, Wood
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Settees
Ash
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Settees
Upholstery, Beech
1830s British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Settees
Ash
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Rattan
Late 19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Settees
Giltwood
19th Century Italian Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Danish Settees
Fabric, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Fabric, Rattan
2010s British Art Deco Settees
Hardwood
1960s Italian Vintage Settees
Rosewood
20th Century American French Provincial Settees
Fabric, Wood, Down
2010s Spanish Industrial Settees
Iron
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Wool, Oak
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Settees
Leather, Wood
Mid-19th Century American American Classical Antique Settees
Upholstery, Poplar, Pine
Late 20th Century American Adirondack Settees
Wood
Late 19th Century American Jacobean Antique Settees
Oak, Cane
Late 18th Century American American Classical Antique Settees
Wood
Early 20th Century English Georgian Settees
Wool, Mahogany
18th Century Antique Settees
Leather, Wood, Walnut
19th Century American Adirondack Antique Settees
Hickory
19th Century Louis XVI Antique Settees
Linen, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Southeast Asian British Colonial Settees
Cane, Wood
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Brass
19th Century British Jacobean Antique Settees
Velvet, Cane, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Walnut
19th Century French Directoire Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Birdseye Maple
Early 20th Century Asian Dutch Colonial Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1950s Vintage Settees
Maple
Early 1800s British Regency Antique Settees
Beech
2010s English Country Settees
Linen
19th Century Louis XVI Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Giltwood
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Settees
Metal
Late 19th Century American Eastlake Antique Settees
Walnut
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Settees
Upholstery, Oak
20th Century Unknown French Provincial Settees
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
Vintage, New and Antique Settees
Vintage, new and antique settees are a smart and stylish choice for adding more seating to a room.
Settees first appeared in 17th-century Europe. A very famous settee, known as the Knole settee, was actually used by a monarch in South East England to receive visitors. This seating furniture was often part of a set that included matching chairs. While settees were popular in parlors, you could also find similar seating, such as daybeds and chaises longues (both of which derive from the settee, as does the chesterfield), where you might relax with guests in your home.
Today, a settee is still furniture that invites socializing. They’re common in living rooms and other shared areas because they allow you to cozy up to someone and have a conversation with them.
Settees are typically small seats that can fit two or more people, but they aren’t as wide as couches or sofas. A settee is more intimate and offers more sitting room than an armchair. Settees often have a backrest for optimal support and are frequently upholstered.
Are you looking to add more seating to an entertainment room but working with limited space? We promise that your vintage settee will look great next to your coffee table in your main seating area. You can also add a settee to your mudroom so that guests have a comfortable spot to sit down and take off their shoes. If you have a small space in your home that you’re still figuring out how to use, add a settee to turn it into a comfortable reading nook. They work in bedrooms too; a tufted settee designed by Danish modernist Finn Juhl makes perfect sense at the foot of your bed.
Most settees come with an upholstered seat, but you can find variations that aren’t upholstered. There are antique wood settees and benches that will look right at home in a rustic decor.
The backrest is an important consideration when choosing a settee. You can find pieces with low seat backs that look discreet and don’t provide a lot of support. If you want more support, we recommend choosing a settee with a high back.
A settee with a high back can become a statement piece, especially if you choose an item with a unique upholstery print or decorative frame.<a href=https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seating/settees/style/victorian/ target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Victorian settees are ideal for introducing an air of sophistication to your living room. These pieces often feature frames of walnut or mahogany, a seat upholstered in chintz fabric (Victorians appreciated that the glazed finish made it easy to wipe clean) and sculptural hand-carved cabriole legs.
If you want something that feels more contemporary or will work better with your mid-century modern side tables and lounge chair, consider Space Age settees or mid-century modern versions. In your main seating area, tie the elements together with a large rug. (Find more tips on how to arrange furniture here.)
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage, new and antique settees from different eras to match any furniture style.