Settees
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Settees
1790s French Empire Antique Settees
19th Century American American Empire Antique Settees
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Settees
Bamboo
19th Century British William and Mary Antique Settees
Silk
20th Century Asian Moorish Settees
Ebony, Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Steel
Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Settees
Wood, Silk
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Faux Leather, Wood
19th Century British Sheraton Antique Settees
Satinwood, Paint, Upholstery
Early 19th Century English Sheraton Antique Settees
Cane, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Wrought Iron
1940s Danish Vintage Settees
Mahogany, Fabric
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Faux Leather, Lucite
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Settees
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Settees
Iron
1790s English George III Antique Settees
Mahogany, Silk
Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Settees
Early 19th Century English Antique Settees
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Settees
Wood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Settees
Leather, Mahogany
1960s American Vintage Settees
Fruitwood, Upholstery
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Settees
Maple, Burl, Wood, Satin
1930s American Modern Vintage Settees
Aluminum
1750s Dutch Queen Anne Antique Settees
Walnut
1960s Ecuadorean Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Leather, Rosewood
Early 17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Settees
19th Century French Victorian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wicker
Mid-18th Century Louis XV Antique Settees
1780s English Chippendale Antique Settees
Upholstery, Mahogany
1940s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Settees
Velvet
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Leather, Mahogany, Teak
1970s American Vintage Settees
Wood
1810s American American Empire Antique Settees
Cane, Pine, Paint
1960s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1820s English George III Antique Settees
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Chrome
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Settees
Silk, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Baroque Settees
17th Century French Louis XIII Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century British Regency Antique Settees
Brass
Mid-18th Century Antique Settees
Wood
18th Century and Earlier British Chippendale Antique Settees
1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Brass
19th Century German Black Forest Antique Settees
Mid-19th Century European Louis XV Antique Settees
Fabric, Paint, Wood
16th Century Swiss Gothic Antique Settees
Pine
19th Century Austrian Antique Settees
Walnut
18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Settees
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Settees
1750s Italian Louis XV Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood
1960s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, 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.