Settees
1810s French Empire Antique Settees
Cherry
1990s Mid-Century Modern Settees
Mohair
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Leather
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Other
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Faux Leather
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Chrome
1860s Danish Rococo Revival Antique Settees
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Settees
Paint, Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Settees
Birch
Late 19th Century British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Suede
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Settees
Fabric, Cane, Wood
Late 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Settees
Naugahyde
19th Century American Neoclassical Antique Settees
Brass, Wrought Iron
1880s English High Victorian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Hardwood
Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Settees
Maple
Late 19th Century British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Brocade, Beech
1990s Italian Modern Settees
Metal
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Walnut
1840s French Charles X Antique Settees
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Antique Settees
Giltwood
19th Century Swedish Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
1820s Italian Charles X Antique Settees
Walnut
1810s German Louis XVI Antique Settees
Cherry
1980s American Modern Vintage Settees
Stainless Steel
Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Settees
Birch
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Brocade, Beech
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood, Paint
19th Century Neoclassical Antique Settees
Silk, Mahogany, Giltwood
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Neoclassical Antique Settees
Wrought Iron
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Leather, Hardwood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Steel, Chrome
Late 19th Century French Aubusson Antique Settees
Tapestry, Giltwood, Wool
1970s South African Vintage Settees
Velvet, Wood
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Leather
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Fabric
19th Century Bajan British Colonial Antique Settees
Mahogany
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Walnut
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Settees
Birch
19th Century Louis XIII Antique Settees
Walnut, Upholstery
1880s French Victorian Antique Settees
Fabric, Mahogany
1980s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Leather, Cane, Mahogany
1860s English High Victorian Antique Settees
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Settees
Walnut, Upholstery
19th Century Louis XIV Antique Settees
Mohair, Wood
19th Century Antique Settees
Upholstery, Reed
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Settees
Leather
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Settees
Bouclé, Upholstery
Late 19th Century English George II Antique Settees
Mahogany
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Settees
Wood, Bouclé, Fabric
1880s English Victorian Antique Settees
Fabric, Walnut
1880s British Victorian Antique Settees
Brass
1990s German Modern Settees
Wool, Wood
19th Century Antique Settees
Oak
1880s French Edwardian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Mahogany
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.