I should know by now that writing off a design concept "forever" is impossible. There will always be that clever application that wins me back. A few years ago, I'd speed past any magazine page containing an ounce of traditional floral, but it only took a few months before I was dreaming about chic ways to bring these classic staples back into a room.

Of course, even now I can't claim to like rooms saturated with floral prints, a little floral goes a long way and a lot of floral makes for a good headache. But in small doses and with the right pairings, romantic florals add the perfect contrast to clean lines and graphic prints— that "something off" that's responsible for the success of so many interesting rooms. Let's take a look at a few inspirations....
• 1., 5. I think I wrote off floral wallpaper before I dismissed floral fabrics, but it take much to convince me to come running back when I began seeing flowery wall-coverings paired with sleek modern lines. Carrying one or two colors from the wallpaper into the colors of furniture helps to create cohesion, and lends even the dowdiest of papers a fresh appeal.
• 2. In a room with an understated palette of neutrals, a bright floral on a lamp shade can create an exciting edge.
• 3. Or even in a room with bright colors but limited patterns, a pop of floral in a pillow cover or window covering can play up a lively eclectic vibe.
• 4. I keep coming back to this living room created by Melissa Warner and featured in House Beautiful (and subsequently all over the blogoshpere) because it's such a wonderful example of fresh traditional. The furnishings themselves could fit into any stuffy traditional room, but paired together in calm colors with a few well chosen punches of color, the room is calm and contemporary. The floral ottoman is a great contrast to the modern pillows.

Images: 1, 2, 5: Living etc, 3: Elle Decoration via this is love forever, 4:House Beautiful,