The Difference Between a Settee & a Chaise Lounge

History

• Both the settee and the chaise lounge date back in their various forms to ancient Egyptian times when royalty sought reclining comfort during meals and entertainment. Medieval drawings of a reclining chair, used as a daybed, date back to the 13th century. Padded sofas with short legs that sit close to the ground, as seen in much modern furniture, didn’t really come into vogue until the mid-20th century when the style was first introduced by furniture designers Charles and Ray Eames.

Decorating

• A settee and a chaise lounge can work together in a room as complementary pieces. Both pieces of furniture typically are upholstered. You can cover each in the same fabric or complement the pieces by using a floral or print pattern on the settee and a matching solid on the chaise lounge or vice versa. The French Provincial styles are most common and work well together in a sitting room, dressing room or bedroom. Chaise lounges sometimes are integrated into modern sectional sofas, while settees have not changed much over the years.

Uses

• Both pieces of furniture are used for seating. A settee is a more formal piece that doesn’t leave room for lounging. Meanwhile, by virtue of its name, the chaise lounge is ideally suited for leaning back and putting your feet up. While you would find it difficult to sleep on a settee because of its rigid frame and short seat, chaise lounges often are used as daybeds. A sufficiently padded chaise can serve as a comfortable bed.

Similarities

• Settees and chaise lounge chairs often are useful as fill-ins for small empty spaces. A settee fits well against a wall, providing extra seating in a room already filled with furnishings. A chaise lounge sits well angled out from an empty corner. Settees and chaise lounges often are used strictly as décor, piled with cushions and draped with decorative throws. Neither are the most comfortable arrangements for guests or for extended sitting while visiting.