Settees
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Giltwood, Down
1650s Italian Mid-Century Modern Antique Settees
Brass
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Oak
Late 19th Century English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Antique Settees
Wood, Antler
1790s Italian Directoire Antique Settees
Giltwood
1760s English George III Antique Settees
Velvet, Mahogany
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Velvet, Walnut
1870s Renaissance Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
1780s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Walnut
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Wood
18th Century Neoclassical Antique Settees
Wood
Late 19th Century European Rococo Revival Antique Settees
Walnut
1890s English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Velvet
Late 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Settees
Wood, Rush
1880s English Victorian Antique Settees
Mahogany, Satinwood
18th Century French Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood
1750s Italian Baroque Antique Settees
Wood
1890s British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
1870s British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
1870s British Chesterfield Antique Settees
Leather
Late 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Settees
Wood
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Leather
18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Settees
Wood
Late 19th Century Renaissance Revival Antique Settees
Velvet, Walnut
18th Century French Antique Settees
Fabric, Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Down, Silk, Beech
Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Antique Settees
Mohair, Bamboo
Late 18th Century American American Classical Antique Settees
Wood
Late 19th Century American Jacobean Antique Settees
Oak, Cane
18th Century Antique Settees
Leather, Wood, Walnut
Late 19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Settees
Giltwood
18th Century Spanish Antique Settees
Pine
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Brass
1870s Antique Settees
Wood
1880s French Napoleon III Antique Settees
Linen, Wood
Late 19th Century American Eastlake Antique Settees
Walnut
1880s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Walnut
Late 19th Century English Edwardian Antique Settees
Linen, Mahogany
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Settees
Wood
1880s English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Walnut
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Giltwood
1870s English Anglo-Japanese Antique Settees
Walnut
Late 18th Century French Antique Settees
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Beech
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Settees
Upholstery, Walnut
Late 18th Century South American Rococo Antique Settees
Chestnut
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Wood
1880s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Fabric, Giltwood
1780s English George III Antique Settees
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Settees
Birch
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Settees
Cane, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Settees
Birch
Late 19th Century British Antique Settees
Leather
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Settees
Pine
Late 19th Century English Renaissance Revival Antique Settees
Oak
1890s French Louis XV Antique Settees
Bronze
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.