Settees
Early 20th Century American Victorian Settees
Wicker
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Fabric, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Bronze
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Teak
2010s Portuguese Modern Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Velvet, Wood
18th Century Antique Settees
Tapestry
Early 20th Century Swedish Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Settees
Wrought Iron
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Walnut
18th Century and Earlier British Chippendale Antique Settees
1930s French Vintage Settees
Upholstery
Early 20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Settees
Fabric, Cotton, Upholstery, Beech
2010s Argentine Modern Settees
Aluminum
18th Century and Earlier English Chippendale Antique Settees
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Velvet, Maple, Paint
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Bouclé
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Hardwood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Chrome
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Velvet, Wood, Ebony
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Metal
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Settees
Fabric
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
Mid-20th Century Hollywood Regency Settees
Textile, Giltwood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Wool, Teak
1910s British William and Mary Vintage Settees
Cotton, Giltwood, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Stainless Steel, Chrome
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Settees
Stainless Steel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Velvet, Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Settees
Giltwood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Wood
1780s English George III Antique Settees
Mahogany
1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Velvet, Beech, Fabric
19th Century Egyptian Moorish Antique Settees
Walnut
1930s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Wool, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Settees
Velvet, Ash
2010s American Minimalist Settees
Steel
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Settees
Fabric, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Velvet, Beech
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Brass
Late 20th Century Unknown Louis XV Settees
Fabric, Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Tapestry, Wood, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Rustic Settees
Wood, Rattan
20th Century English Art Deco Settees
Upholstery, Beech
Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Settees
Silk, Wood
1860s Danish Rococo Revival Antique Settees
Mahogany
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Settees
Wool
20th Century American Victorian Settees
Wicker
1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Settees
Beech
2010s Italian Settees
Velvet, Wood, Hardwood, Shell
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Bentwood, Upholstery
1890s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary English Regency Settees
Wood, Leather
1760s English George III Antique Settees
Velvet, Mahogany
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.