Add zip to your decor with a chevron stripe

Looking for a way to spruce up your spaces this autumn? Try playing with pattern.

Besides paint, injecting a peppy print into a room is one of the easiest ways to make what's old look new (or new-ish) again.

A classic favorite is the chevron stripe. This chic zigzag packs more punch than the traditional linear stripe, plus it adds movement and, depending on how you use it, a bit of playfulness to a space.

For a subtle chevron sighting, toss a throw on a sofa, place a bowl or lamp on a tabletop or replace a nondescript wastebasket with one that's worth noting.

If you're prepared for more permanence, consider installing wood flooring, a kitchen backsplash or bathroom tile in the pattern.

Some happy mediums between the two extremes: hanging curtain panels that sport the graphic design (the wider the zigzag, the more dramatic) or painting floors or walls using a V-shape stencil.

The chevron motif is often confused with the herringbone pattern, but there is a distinction: the chevron is a series of V's where the ends meet at a center point; in a herringbone pattern, the ends of the V's overlap.

Finding a zigzag that works with your decor should be easy; they are everywhere these days. From interior design to tech accessories, paper products to haute couture, when it comes to this pattern, the choices are aplenty.

If you're not typically a pattern person, here's a suggestion: Try the chevron on your feet first with a colorful pair of wedges. I guarantee you will notice a spring in your summertime step.