Settees
Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Settees
Tapestry, Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Settees
Linen, Wood
Late 19th Century French Directoire Antique Settees
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Birch
1980s Vintage Settees
Leather, Cotton, Faux Fur
Mid-20th Century British Modern Settees
Velvet
2010s Portuguese Modern Settees
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
1990s British Georgian Settees
Upholstery, Acrylic, Wood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Bouclé, Teak
19th Century French Rustic Antique Settees
Willow
Early 20th Century British Settees
Walnut
20th Century Victorian Settees
Velvet, Walnut
17th Century French Louis XIII Antique Settees
Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
20th Century Italian Settees
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Settees
Bouclé, Velvet
1950s American Vintage Settees
Rattan
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Faux Leather, Lucite
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Settees
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Settees
Wood
19th Century British Victorian Antique Settees
Leather, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Settees
Marble, Steel
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Settees
20th Century Rustic Settees
Leather
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Fabric, Beech
2010s American Other Settees
Metal, Sheet Metal
1930s Vintage Settees
Fabric, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Settees
Bouclé, Velvet
2010s Cypriot Post-Modern Settees
Leather, Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Settees
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Wood
2010s Cypriot Post-Modern Settees
Fabric, Wood
Late 17th Century English Antique Settees
Oak
2010s Italian Modern Settees
Walnut, Lacquer
Early 20th Century American Settees
Oak
Late 20th Century European Modern Settees
Leather, Wood
1920s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage Settees
Fabric, Beech
2010s American Other Settees
Metal, Sheet Metal
19th Century English Antique Settees
Mahogany
Late 19th Century English High Victorian Antique Settees
Leather, Hardwood, Walnut
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Beech, Upholstery
Mid-19th Century European Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Beech
19th Century Italian Antique Settees
Giltwood
19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Antique Settees
Wood, Upholstery
1990s American Modern Settees
Fabric, Wood
2010s Italian Modern Settees
Fiberglass
Late 20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Settees
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Settees
Fabric
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric
2010s American Other Settees
Metal, Sheet Metal
Late 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Settees
Naugahyde
1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Teak
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Hardwood
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
1850s Brazilian Empire Antique Settees
Cane, Wood
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Suede, Foam, Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Settees
Brass
1990s Settees
Rope
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Settees
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.