Settees
Mid-19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Antique Settees
Fabric, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Settees
Gold Leaf
1830s English William IV Antique Settees
Upholstery, Hardwood
1810s English Regency Antique Settees
Brass
Late 19th Century French Rustic Antique Settees
Silk, Rush, Oak, Down
19th Century French Antique Settees
Wool, Giltwood
19th Century European Neoclassical Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
1970s Vintage Settees
Cotton
1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Leather, Rosewood
1970s Modern Vintage Settees
Mohair, Wood
1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Leather, Fabric, Wood
1880s Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Settees
Walnut
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Wood
19th Century American American Empire Antique Settees
Mahogany
19th Century Neoclassical Antique Settees
Mahogany
1880s Italian Antique Settees
Iron
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Brocade, Beech
Mid-19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century English Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Other
19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Settees
Ebony
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Other
19th Century Sheraton Antique Settees
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Settees
Velvet, Mahogany
1860s Victorian Antique Settees
Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Settees
Paint, Wood
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Brocade, Beech
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Fabric
1810s French Empire Antique Settees
Cherry
1880s British Victorian Antique Settees
Brass
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Settees
Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Late 19th Century British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Suede
1970s Italian Vintage Settees
Metal
19th Century British Victorian Antique Settees
Leather
Late 19th Century Spanish Neoclassical Antique Settees
Wrought Iron
19th Century British Edwardian Antique Settees
Leather
Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Settees
Maple
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century Louis XIII Antique Settees
Walnut, Upholstery
1970s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Leather, Wood
1970s American Post-Modern Vintage Settees
Velvet
Late 19th Century British Jacobean Antique Settees
Cane, Oak
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Settees
Wood, Paint
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Settees
Wool
Late 19th Century British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
19th Century Swedish Country Antique Settees
Iron
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood, Paint
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Chrome
1880s French Victorian Antique Settees
Fabric, Mahogany
19th Century Swedish Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
1840s French Charles X Antique Settees
Mahogany
1880s English High Victorian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Hardwood
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Settees
Fabric, Giltwood
19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Settees
Walnut, Upholstery
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Walnut
1820s Italian Charles X Antique Settees
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.