Settees
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Damask, Rosewood
19th Century French Restauration Antique Settees
Brass
19th Century English Antique Settees
Brass
1970s European Vintage Settees
Wicker
Late 19th Century Renaissance Revival Antique Settees
Velvet, Walnut
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Leather
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Silk, Giltwood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Down, Silk, Beech
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Settees
Fabric, Walnut
19th Century Italian Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1860s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Velvet, Wood
Late 19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Settees
Giltwood
Late 19th Century American Jacobean Antique Settees
Oak, Cane
19th Century American Adirondack Antique Settees
Hickory
19th Century French Directoire Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Leather
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Wood, Velvet
Late 19th Century English Edwardian Antique Settees
Linen, Mahogany
Early 1800s British Regency Antique Settees
Beech
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Giltwood
Mid-19th Century Indian Victorian Antique Settees
Velvet, Wood
19th Century Louis XVI Antique Settees
Linen, Wood, Paint
1870s Antique Settees
Wood
1880s French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Linen, Wood
19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Settees
Wood
Late 19th Century American Eastlake Antique Settees
Walnut
Mid-19th Century American American Classical Antique Settees
Upholstery, Poplar, Pine
19th Century British Jacobean Antique Settees
Velvet, Cane, Wood
1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Settees
Stainless Steel
19th Century English William and Mary Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood, Oak
Late 19th Century English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Mahogany
1880s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Walnut
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Giltwood
1880s English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Walnut
1850s European Biedermeier Antique Settees
Mahogany
1870s English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century English Queen Anne Antique Settees
Textile, Wood
1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Wood
Early 1800s Antique Settees
Fabric, Hardwood
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Mirror, Leather
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Wood
19th Century Louis XVI Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood
1970s American Louis XV Vintage Settees
Cotton, Upholstery, Wood
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Chrome
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Settees
Velvet, Wood, Walnut
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Settees
Cane, Wood, Paint
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Steel
1970s German Space Age Vintage Settees
Chrome
Early 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Silk, Giltwood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Linen, Oak, Giltwood, Paint
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Wood, Fabric
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Leather
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Chenille
1880s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Fabric, Giltwood
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.