Toile Curtains

About Toile Curtains

Toile originated from the French word “Toile du Jouy” which means “canvas” or “linen cloth”. It was first mass produced in France during the 17th century to counter block print patterns from India that were making waves in Europe at the time. The French fabrics were initially block printed with patterns that were inspired by the scenic French countryside.

Currently, toile curtains feature decorative patterns usually on a white background that show repeated patterns depicting scenes of varying levels of intricacy. The curtains are very attractive and can complement most living rooms, especially those with toile themes.

There is a wide variety of modern toile curtains to choose from. The French country toile collection, for example, features the traditional Toile du Jouy motifs. It portrays French countryside scenes and personalities of the 18th and 19th century periods. These may also feature pastoral scenery and mythological settings.

Toile prints intended for children features classic patterns, scenes that appeal to the kids, and animal prints that may include nursery pets and animals such as dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits. Floral toile collections are perfectly suited for curtains and present a variety of floral designs in assorted number of appealing colors. Oriental toile curtains, on the other hand, features rich and unique Asian designs, patterns, and scenes.

Decorating With Toile Curtains

If you are considering decorating with toile curtains, the first consideration to make is in the kind of look you want to achieve. For a more modern motif, or if your furniture is modern and sleek, toile curtains may not be the best way to go, as they lend an antique and old-world beauty ambience to any room. Although there are people who find toile curtains as outdated and old-fashioned, there are many who choose them for the regal tone and formality they exude.

The main challenge is having the toile curtains and the living room furniture match and complement each other for a colorful and lively family or living room. Before anything else, you need to come up with a plan or map indicating where you would be placing the draperies along with the furniture and decorative accents to arrive at a look that expresses you individual style. This will save you a lot of time and effort during the actual decoration activities.

Color coordination is important especially when matching your toile curtains with the furniture. The color and pattern of the fabric should complement that of the sofa or other furniture. You may consider having your furniture reupholstered so that these will agree with fabric and will not go against the theme of your living room. Play with the colors by making use of complementing colors in your toile curtains and furniture.

The toile curtains should display dominant color attributes that match the living room’s accents. Normally, the color of the carpets or rugs, the seats, or even the pillows should be lighter than that of the toile curtains. The color scheme should be well coordinated throughout the whole living room. Take care to ensure that not to leave any deviation behind. Use your toile curtains to take advantage of the theme and style of your living area. Oriental furniture and carpets will most likely not match toile fabrics with Occidental motifs. Consider placing a lining at the back of your toile curtains to block the sunlight and to view the pattern much easier.