How to Decorate with Red Toile and Flower Patterns

Since the 1800s, toile fabric has been considered romantic and elegant. Defined by patterns featuring a wide variety of natural and historical scenes, such as peasants working in fields and images from the French and American war, toile will add a vintage flair to any room in your house. Toile fabric traditionally consists of a white or cream-colored background and a design in a single hue. Common toile design colors include light blue, black, brown and an elegant cranberry, rather than cherry, shade of red. Combine toile-patterned fabrics with delicate floral-printed materials to create artistic, visually appealing spaces.

Things You'll Need

• Red-toile-patterned plates, shower curtain, drapes, quilt, pillows and cushions
• Flower-patterned dish towels, apron, tablecloth, bath towels, slipcovers, cushions and table skirt
• Red roses
• Glass vases

Instructions

1. Decorate the kitchen with plates embellished with a red-rooster toile pattern. Stand the decorative plates in a rustic, country-inspired cabinet with a glass front so that the pattern is visible. Complete the relaxed farmhouse look by using dish towels and vintage aprons featuring large floral patterns in shades of yellow, red and orange. Choose a white antique tablecloth featuring floral embroidery details.

2. Infuse your bathroom with a romantic vibe by hanging a cloth red-toile shower curtain featuring sweet cherub designs. Decorate with white bath and hand towels accented with small red rose patterns. Naturally freshen the air by setting out antique glass vases filled with fresh-cut red roses.

3. Add sophisticated flair to a living room filled with antiques by hanging delicate red-toile drapes featuring scenes from a historic French farm. Choose a couch and love seat set with a small, understated red-and-green floral pattern; you can also inexpensively update your current furniture by using slipcovers. To avoid creating a too-busy look, paint the walls a neutral hue and use solid-red throw blankets and decorative pillows.

4. Place a red-toile-patterned quilt featuring nature designs, such as birds and trees, on your bed and hang matching curtains. Decorate your bed and chairs with pillows and cushions featuring a red, yellow, white, light blue and green floral pattern. This works especially well with rustic whitewashed furniture, such as a headboard, night stand and dresser, to create a shabby-chic look.

5. Decorate your porch or sunroom in a relaxing, French country style by placing red-toile cushions on white wicker furniture; choose toile fabric with an outdoor motif or a scene depicting figures working in a field or garden. Enhance a basic wood side table or plant stand by putting a table skirt featuring small red, yellow and orange flower designs around it.

References

• Creative Homemaking: Decorating with Toile