Florals. Just the mere mention of the word can send images of grandmother's plastic-covered sofa or the Middle-America bed and breakfast floating through your head.
But flowers don't have to be fusty. New styles are contemporary, even daring, not delicate and old-fashioned.
Sharon Novak, of Contents Interiors, 3401 E. Fort Lowell Road, offered a few tips on keeping florals fresh.
Unlike past patterns, which featured small, pastel prints, today's flowers are large and colored in bright-warm tones. Pale pink has given way to fuchsia, mint to chartreuse, peach to orange.
Choosing rich colors and big design creates a modern, updated feel.
To make the look even more striking, mix florals with solids, Novak says. You could even throw in a few stripes of the same colors.
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● Contact reporter Erin White at ewhite@azstarnet.com or 807-8429.
» Use floral prints wisely
• Mix with solids.
• Choose bold colors and large patterns for a more contemporary look.
• Use them as an accent or to tie a look together — instead of a main design element — to avoid going overboard.
• Think about fibers. A lush fabric can update a floral look.