Settees
1860s European Napoleon III Antique Settees
Hardwood
1860s Danish Rococo Revival Antique Settees
Mahogany
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Aluminum, Iron
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Settees
Walnut, Straw
Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Settees
Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Teak
19th Century American American Empire Antique Settees
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antique Settees
Leather, Teak
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Settees
Velvet, Beech
20th Century Italian Adam Style Settees
Cane, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Settees
Oak
2010s American Modern Settees
Maple, Bouclé
21st Century and Contemporary European Neoclassical Settees
Iron
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Teak, Leather
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Wool, Upholstery
Late 20th Century Italian Settees
Aluminum
Late 20th Century American Settees
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Louis XVI Settees
Fabric, Wood
2010s American Settees
Upholstery, Oak
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Fruitwood
Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Settees
Walnut
1780s English Chippendale Antique Settees
Oak
19th Century Indian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Velvet, Rosewood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Settees
Upholstery, Oak
1870s North American Empire Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany, Satinwood
1810s Dutch Empire Antique Settees
Satinwood, Upholstery, Mahogany, Tulipwood
1950s American Vintage Settees
Chrome, Stainless Steel, Steel
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Damask, Rosewood
1980s Italian Vintage Settees
Leather
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Walnut, Linen
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Steel
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Wood
1860s European Napoleon III Antique Settees
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Fabric, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Rattan
1780s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Walnut
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Settees
Velvet
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Settees
Wood
Late 20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Settees
Leather, Bentwood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Caribbean Anglo-Indian Antique Settees
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Settees
Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut
2010s British Mid-Century Modern Settees
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Oak
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Settees
Fabric, Walnut
Early 20th Century Queen Anne Settees
Mahogany
18th Century English Georgian Antique Settees
Mahogany
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Beech
Mid-20th Century British Chesterfield Settees
Leather
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Walnut, Linen
20th Century Mexican Victorian Settees
Iron
1920s Italian Art Deco Vintage Settees
Velvet, Walnut
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Elm
18th Century Spanish Antique Settees
Walnut
20th Century Neoclassical Settees
Fabric, Wood
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Beech
Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Settees
Walnut
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Gold Leaf
1890s English Adam Style Antique Settees
Cane, Satinwood
1960s Ecuadorean Organic Modern Vintage Settees
Leather, Wood
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Settees
Linen, Wood, Paint
2010s South African Settees
Velvet
Late 19th Century American Renaissance Revival Antique Settees
Upholstery, Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary American Gustavian Settees
Brass
Early 20th Century British Settees
Wood
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Settees
Velvet, Cherry
1990s Danish Scandinavian Modern Settees
Suede, Beech
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
Early 19th Century South American William IV Antique Settees
Mahogany
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Rope, Wood
19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Antique Settees
Textile, 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.