Settees
20th Century Louis XVI Settees
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Industrial Settees
Leather
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Velvet, Maple
1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Velvet, Beech, Fabric
2010s American Modern Settees
Bouclé, Maple
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Settees
Velvet
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Velvet, Bamboo, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Settees
Sheepskin
Early 20th Century French Adam Style Settees
Fabric, Mahogany
1880s Antique Settees
Oak
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
1960s French French Provincial Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Cane, Hardwood
2010s English Country Settees
Linen
20th Century American Empire Settees
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary British Chesterfield Settees
Leather
1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Bouclé
2010s Brazilian Settees
Bronze
18th Century English Georgian Antique Settees
Mahogany
19th Century English Victorian Antique Settees
Leather
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Mohair, Maple
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Giltwood, Gesso, Silk, Upholstery
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Brass
1950s French Louis XV Vintage Settees
Cane, Walnut
19th Century English Neoclassical Antique Settees
Hardwood, Paint
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Linen, Leather, Oak
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Leather
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Other
2010s Argentine Modern Settees
Bronze
Mid-19th Century British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
20th Century English Country Settees
Velvet, Beech, Oak
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Settees
Velvet, Wood
2010s English Modern Settees
Upholstery
Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Settees
Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Settees
Bouclé, Velvet
19th Century Italian Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Settees
Walnut
1960s American Vintage Settees
Fiberglass, Rubber
1960s Danish Vintage Settees
Bouclé, Beech
21st Century and Contemporary American Other Settees
Leather
2010s Argentine Modern Settees
Wood, Rosewood
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Leather, Maple
20th Century French Louis XV Settees
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Louis XV Settees
Fabric, Walnut
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Settees
Mahogany, Upholstery
20th Century English Chesterfield Settees
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Settees
Upholstery, Oak
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Wool, Tapestry, Giltwood
21st Century and Contemporary British Chesterfield Settees
Leather
Mid-20th Century British Chesterfield Settees
Leather, Wood
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Settees
Beech, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Settees
Mahogany, Leather
1940s Danish Modern Vintage Settees
Linen, Mahogany
1870s North American Empire Antique Settees
Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany, Satinwood
1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Rosewood
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Settees
Fabric, Elm
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.