You know what, I have found that when I have my prints picked out for the best scrappiness I can get (you know random doesn't come easy!!) and it's working like I want it to, then I find some way to work in some kind of polka dots or circles somewhere, not always a lot, maybe just a touch.
Somehow it adds something sort of whimsical and contemporary, but yet does not detract form the "traditional" look.
Most of the time this works out really well.