When it comes to decorating your home, there are two sets of furniture you’ll likely own. The pieces you truly get your money’s worth form because you keep them forever, and the ones you get sick of and replace after a few seasons. There’s a place in a home for both types of furniture: one lays the foundation for your decor, while the other keeps things fresh and on trend. In our Investment Pieces series, we’re going to be focusing on the former category, items that’ll you’ll buy with the intent on keeping them forever.

First in the spotlight: The settee. It’s smaller than a sofa, larger than a chair, more comfortable than a bench. It can be casual, formal, or somewhere in between. You’ll find uses for it anywhere from the bedroom or the entryway, to the dining room, living room and beyond.

In fact, the flexibility of the settee is one of the biggest reasons we consider it to be an investment piece: the sheer number of ways you’ll find to use it over the years makes it well worth the purchase.

For example:
Use it in the dining room as a banquette to replace chairs.

In the entryway, as a spot to sit to put on shoes.

Or at the end of the bed in a master suite.

In a formal living room for extra seating with a small footprint.

In front of a window as a makeshift window seat.

It’s pretty and practical almost anywhere in your home.

Of course, the key to purchasing a settee that will last years is to find something high quality and in a classic style, like the pieces in the images above. A tailored, structured settee with a high back and wooden frame will often be your best bet, since these pieces are sturdy and can be easily re-upholstered based on wear and tear, your evolving decor style, and how you use them in your home. A few we’d recommend?

This linen settee bench from Rinfret Home, which can easily be painted and reupholstered to suit any space.

A sophisticated French Berger-style settee never goes out of style.

For a colonial-inspired look that’s perfect for New England homes, we love the structured simplicity of this cane-bench style settee. Plus, that cushion would be a breeze to re-cover.

What’s your favorite way to style a settee at home?