Bored of boring, straight stripes? Theres a solution to that! The chevron trend is all over fashion, accessories and now the home. Chevron, or parallel zig-zag stripes, can be used in a variety of ways all over the home. How you use it and where can reflect your personal style and show off what you've learned in interior decorating classes here at Ashworth College.

• Accent Wall - Painting one accent wall in chevron is a way to add a bit of the look without going overboard. Instead of simply painting one wall a different color, making it an entirely different pattern is another way to spice things up. To achieve this look, use tape to outline your zig zags and paint accordingly.
• Decorations-  You can add chevron throw pillows, rugs, or frames to add a small touch of the look in your room. This prevents it from being overwhelming and keeps it tasteful.
• Tiles - Chevron can be achieved using more than fabric or paint. For some, making the tiles in the bathroom floor or the backsplash to the kitchen create the pattern is another unexpected twist that makes your home look fun and modern.

Would you ever add this look in your home?

Small-space decorating can be a challenge, maximizing storage and arranging furniture to meet your specific needs is only part of the equation. Use color to visually expand space, by lightening the walls the rooms will feel more spacious.

Don’t be afraid to mix patterns, and customize your small space with wall art. Home accents, and other do-it-yourself projects are perfect for a small home, whether you rent or own. In order to work within the footprint that you already have, get creative with savvy space-saving storage ideas and solutions instead of full-scale remodels or room additions. Increase the usability of a tiny bathroom, up the ante of a small kitchen, and make the most of a small bedroom or a small living room.

The weather is cooling off and the heat is turning up. Not only do wardrobes change from warmer weather to cooler climates, but homes change as well.  When the house turns from the place you used to cool off to a place you seek refuge from the freezing temperatures, often times the decor changes too.  Here are some easy ways to help your home get ready for the fall weather too.

• Add a lot of throw pillows to your chairs and couch.  Because you and your family will be spending a lot more time indoors, it's nice to have something comfrotable to relax with and that adds visual interest to your living room.
• Layering your floor rugs is a great way to add texture and visual interest to your room.  Not only that, but having the multiple rugs is practical because it will keep your feet from walking on the cold ground.
• Prep your fireplace so it's ready to be the focal point of the room.  By decorating the mantle, cleaning the dust off, and moving away the clutter, you're one step closer to having your fireplace be a gathering place.
• Trade your light, summer curtains for thicker ones.  In the summer, the light curtains allow warm air and sunshine to come in, but in the winter, thick curtains are great for keeping the heat in.
• Candles offer more light when it starts to get dark earlier.  They also offer more warmth and they smell great.

As a student in online interior decorating school, what other tips do you have?

Hardwood floors look beautiful and they go with everything, but there's nothing like a rug to warm the place up.  A rug can tie the whole room together, make the floor less slippery, and add some texture to make the room more interesting.  If you do decide to choose a rug for your room, remember that this piece will not only serve a purpose for the room, but it has to fit your lifestyle.  HGTV has these tips.

1. The rug will end up being a catch all for messes, pet fur, and children's clutter.  If your family is prone to making messes, you need a rug that is darker in color and can easily be cleaned.
2. Size does matter when it comes to choosing a rug.  A rug should be"large enough to anchor and support the gathering space, yet it should free enough flooring around for the circulation flow," said Jennifer Duneier, a woman who works in interior decorating careers.
3. If you have neutral walls and a hardwood floor, use the rug to bring a pop of color into the room.  It's also a great way to keep changing up the feel of the room.  By just changing the accent colors in the rug and the curtains, you can change the whole vibe.
4. Rugs come in all shapes and sizes so coordinate your rug with the furniture in the room.  If you have a round table, put a round rug underneath.  Likewise, long rectangular rugs work best in dining rooms.
5. Don't be afraid to make your rug take center stage.  It can be the focal point of a room and that's perfectly okay.

Do you have any other tips?

Decorating your home for the holidays is just as important as the decorations you use the rest of the year.  Your Halloween decorations will set the tone for the weekend and get you into the spirit and ready to go.  It also is just something fun and a break from the ordinary.  If nothing else, view all holidays as a chance to show off even more of your talent in interior design.  Either way, there are fun and easy decorations you can put up in your home this Halloween to give it a spooky vibe.

• It's not just the people in your home that need costumes - add black construction paper masks to the portraits hanging up for an eerie feeling.
• Drape white sheets all over the furniture so the room will feel abandoned and creepy.
• Get black, silk flowers and put them in a vase.  You can use these as centerpieces or accent pieces.
• Get lots of pumpkins and carve them into something unexpected.  For exmple, carve flames into a stack of pumpkins and put them in the fireplace.  Or get twelve pumpkins and spell out "trick-or-treat" to welcome kids to get your candy.
• Make a shadow of a ghost in your  mirror.  Simply draw a figure on the back of a sheet of frosted window film.  Cut out the silhouette, as well as its eyes and mouth, with an X-Acto knife and apply the film to a mirror, smoothing as you go.
• Hollow out a pumpkin and put a votive candle inside.  Voila - an instant Halloween candle holder.
• Put fake spiderwebs EVERYWHERE!

What other decorating tips can you think of?