Settees
1750s English George III Antique Settees
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Steel
19th Century Antique Settees
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Country Settees
Wood
Early 19th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Antique Settees
Bronze
1980s American Modern Vintage Settees
Canvas, Wood, Paint
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Settees
Leather, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Settees
Fabric, Wood
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Settees
Velvet, Beech
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Synthetic, Faux Leather
Late 19th Century English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Mahogany
1780s English Regency Antique Settees
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Brass
1950s Vintage Settees
Maple
1860s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Velvet, Wood
2010s Spanish Industrial Settees
Iron
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Settees
Other
20th Century English Settees
Wood
1650s Italian Mid-Century Modern Antique Settees
Brass
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Wood, Velvet
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Wool, Oak
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Elm, Wool
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Settees
Ash
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Settees
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Silk, Giltwood
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Leather, Mahogany
Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Antique Settees
Wood, Antler
19th Century Louis XVI Antique Settees
Linen, Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Brass
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Velvet, Cane, Wood
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Leather
20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Upholstery, Wood
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Walnut
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Leather, Linen, Beech
1930s Vintage Settees
Wood
1920s American Adirondack Vintage Settees
Rattan
19th Century English Antique Settees
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Settees
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Settees
Fabric, Wool, Bouclé, Oak
20th Century English Country Settees
Upholstery, Beech, Oak
2010s English Modern Settees
Upholstery
1950s English Vintage Settees
Velvet, Giltwood
1960s Vintage Settees
Fabric, Textile, Cane, Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Linen, Oak, Giltwood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Oak
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Bouclé, Upholstery, Oak
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Settees
Fabric, Mahogany
20th Century Settees
Silk, Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Settees
Upholstery, Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Settees
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Primitive Antique Settees
Wood
2010s American Modern Settees
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Chrome
Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Settees
Wood
19th Century Biedermeier Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood
Early 2000s Louis XV Settees
Cotton, 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.