Settees
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Settees
Walnut
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Settees
Wool, Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Asian Moorish Antique Settees
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Iron
2010s Italian Modern Settees
Metal
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Fabric, Linen, Wood, Walnut
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Wool, Oak
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Settees
Birch
1940s British Vintage Settees
Walnut
19th Century Italian Romantic Antique Settees
Silver Leaf
2010s Pakistani Organic Modern Settees
Velvet, Ash, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century British Chesterfield Settees
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Louis XVI Settees
Wood
19th Century Bajan British Colonial Antique Settees
Mahogany
19th Century Danish Empire Antique Settees
Ormolu
2010s Brazilian Settees
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Victorian Settees
Upholstery, Mahogany
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Settees
Wood
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Leather
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Wool
20th Century Asian Moorish Settees
Ebony, Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
1890s American Victorian Antique Settees
Wicker, Reed, Wood
1990s Settees
Fabric, Wood
1910s American Arts and Crafts Vintage Settees
Steel
Early 20th Century Swedish Biedermeier Settees
Birch
Mid-19th Century American Antique Settees
Wood
2010s American Modern Settees
Bouclé, Maple
Early 20th Century Swedish Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
1940s French Vintage Settees
Fabric, Hardwood
Early 1900s French Antique Settees
Giltwood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Metal, Brass
1930s Vintage Settees
Leather
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Settees
Bamboo
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Rope, Wood
2010s British Art Deco Settees
Alpaca, Beech
1890s Syrian Victorian Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
20th Century Directoire Settees
Fabric, Oak
20th Century English Chippendale Settees
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Velvet, Paint, Maple, Wood
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Leather, Fabric, Wood, Oak, Teak, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Bohemian Settees
Fabric, Rattan, Reed
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Brass
20th Century Hollywood Regency Settees
Wood
20th Century Louis XV Settees
Fabric, Cane, Hardwood
2010s American Louis XVI Settees
Metal
Early 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Silk, Giltwood
Early 19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Settees
Upholstery, Birch
Early 2000s English Post-Modern Settees
Leather, Hardwood
20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Settees
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Chesterfield Settees
Leather, Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Giltwood
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Upholstery, Rattan, Cane
1980s American Chippendale Vintage Settees
Wood
1930s French Country Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1780s English Chippendale Antique Settees
Upholstery, Mahogany
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Wood
1880s French Art Nouveau Antique Settees
Cane, Walnut, Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary American Organic Modern Settees
Cowhide, Hide, Oak, Walnut
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.