Decorating with Toile Wallpapers
Toile patterns are popular choices for many home decor applications, such as fabrics, china, and wallpaper. But what is toile, exactly, and why is it such a classic? “Toile” originally referred to cloth, generally, and it wasn’t until the eighteenth century that printed toiles were being produced in Ireland. One of the first major producers of toile fabrics, however, was Christophe-Philipe Oberkampf’s factory in Jouy-en-Josas. Toile de Jouy, or simply “toile” for short, quickly became popular across France and the rest of the world– including the world of wallpaper. The patterns traditionally feature complex illustrated pastoral scenes or references to European folktales.
We have dozens of toile wallpapers on our site ready to be printed to order. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up six of our favorites below: three classic toiles and three that offer a modern, playful spin on this traditional pattern. Toile wallpapers can work with a variety of design styles, since toiles themselves can be created in so many different styles with a variety of subject matter. Let’s get started!
The Classics
We’ll start with some classic toiles, letting these traditional, timeless wallpapers do the talking. These scenes of provincial life bring a touch of French elegance to your space, perfect for French country, cottagecore, or modern farmhouse design styles.
This moody, tone-on-tone toile depicts peacocks hidden among trees, fountains, and forests–woodland animals abound, and a couple flirts by an old stone wall. The overall effect is lacy and delicate, and it doesn’t mind taking a backseat to the rest of your home decor. Style a living room with this classic pattern, or create a jewel-toned powder room to die for (don’t forget a vase of flowers!)
In our Camelot wallpaper, a clifftop castle from a far-off land hides nestled in between festoons of classic cottage flowers. This undeniably fairytale-like design is whimsical and frou-frou in the best way possible. It is perfect for crafting a reading nook, dressing up a girly powder room, or bringing some color and coquetry to any corner of your home that needs it.
Another classic toile, our Cluny wallpaper features bucolic country scenes. Horses, oxen, and goats are hard at work amid copses of line-drawn trees, along with the occasional hunting dog who’s bound to stir up some trouble. This engraving-inspired art style adds further historical flavor to this pattern, making it a true classic. This design works well with modern farmhouse furniture and decor, but we could also see it pairing well with your favorite antiques– either way, pairing with neutrals and some rustic wood is a sure bet.
Unexpected Toiles
Some toile designs take the classic framework and fill it with fresh, new characters and scenes. We’re lucky to have more than a few in our library! From vintage Star Wars-inspired motifs to contemporary dinosaur illustrations, quirky toile wallpapers can be a fun way to add personality to your space.
This adorable dinosaur toile was hand-illustrated by our in-house design team, crafted to cause maximum delight. Dino Camp features dinosaurs on outdoorsy adventures: hiking, waterskiing, fishing, and making s’mores under a starlit sky. There’s a blink-and-you 'll-miss-it reference to the asteroid that ended their prehistoric life, but in the meantime, these happy dinos will inspire a sense of adventure in your space! This design is perfectly at home in a child’s room or playroom, but anyone with a sense of whimsy will enjoy it, no matter their age.
Scanned from archival vintage wallpaper and reimagined by our creative team, Space Cadet depicts futuristic galactic warfare–helmeted astronauts, laser guns, and all. This toile is illustrated in a charming midcentury style, with all the best of space-age optimism and a fun retro color palette. Think beyond a child’s room, and let this wallpaper inspire you to new heights in your home office or study space.
Our fluid, geometric Oasis toile wallpaper was inspired by trips through the sun-soaked days and star-filled nights of the California desert. This design was created by our design team, featuring graphic, midcentury-inspired shapes (hello, Palm Springs!) that outline oases, desert plants, geodesic domes, and twinkling stars. Oasis is perfect for adding some midcentury groove to your space, and the low-key color palette makes a happy, moody backdrop for your furniture and collected tchotchkes.
We hope you’ve found the perfect toile wallpaper for your space! If not, browse all our toile wallpapers here, or contact us about a custom design. All of the patterns shown above (plus many more on our site) can be customized in scale, color, or completely reimagined with new elements. Happy wallpapering!