Settees
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Fruitwood
21st Century and Contemporary American Chesterfield Settees
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Settees
Bouclé, Velvet
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Settees
Birch
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Unknown Louis XV Settees
Fabric, Walnut
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Aluminum, Iron
1980s German Vintage Settees
Fabric, Rubber
1980s Vintage Settees
Cotton
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Wool, Beech
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Bouclé, Walnut
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Settees
Wool, Upholstery, Wood
20th Century American Settees
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Spanish Neoclassical Antique Settees
Wrought Iron
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Brass
Early 18th Century French Baroque Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Giltwood
2010s American Scandinavian Modern Settees
Ash
19th Century European Renaissance Revival Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Velvet, Maple
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Wool, Beech
1650s Italian Mid-Century Modern Antique Settees
Brass
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Settees
Leather, Oak
2010s American Louis XVI Settees
Metal
1790s English George III Antique Settees
Fabric, Mahogany
Early 19th Century South American William IV Antique Settees
Mahogany
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Settees
Velvet, Mahogany
Early 1900s British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1840s Indian Regency Antique Settees
Cane, Rosewood
1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Wood
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery
21st Century and Contemporary American Chesterfield Settees
Leather, Wood
2010s American Settees
Upholstery, Oak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Metal
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Settees
Birch
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
1930s Vintage Settees
Leather
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Wood
Late 19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Settees
Rattan, Bentwood
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Settees
Bouclé, Upholstery
Early 19th Century Cuban Regency Antique Settees
Cane, Mahogany
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Settees
Beech
1960s Japanese Vintage Settees
Wicker, Rattan
2010s Brazilian Settees
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Rustic Settees
Hickory
1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Settees
Leather
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Settees
Fabric, Mahogany
2010s American Modern Settees
Bouclé, Maple
19th Century Maghreb Moorish Antique Settees
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Settees
Metal
1950s French Louis XV Vintage Settees
Cane, Walnut
18th Century and Earlier American American Classical Antique Settees
1990s European Modern Settees
Aluminum
Early 20th Century European Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Beech, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Settees
Upholstery, Cane, 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.