Interior design trends seem to swing from minimalist to maximalist every few years, but the “dopamine décor” style might be here to stay.
This trend focuses on one thing: filling your home with colours and furniture that bring you joy. Whether that’s a specific pattern or a jumble of decorations pinched from other aesthetics, the goal is to reflect your personality in your living space.
If you’re interested in making your home happier, keep reading to learn more about dopamine décor and how you can use it to boost your wellbeing.
What is “dopamine décor”?
Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that rewards you with feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation after you do something good. Dopamine décor aims to design your home to encourage your brain to release as much dopamine as possible, so you feel happy and relaxed.
The dopamine décor trend brands the sleek greys and browns that have been fashionable over the past few years as dull. Instead, it encourages you to fill your house with your favourite bright colours and interesting furniture to show off your interests.
How can the design of your home affect your mood?
How do you feel when you read a book or listen to a song you enjoy? Most people feel calmer and happier when creating or interacting with art, as it releases feel-good hormones called endorphins, as well as dopamine.
Interior design is its own form of art. Intentionally decorating your home and considering colour combinations and interesting patterns as well as ensuring everything is functional can be difficult but rewarding.
Not only do you get to spend time thinking through the design of your home, but you will also reap the benefits of your original, perfectly tailored design for as long as you stay in your house.
How can you incorporate dopamine décor in your home?
Decorating your house with designs that spark joy will have a different result for everybody thanks to our varying tastes, but here are some tips to help you get started.
1. Decide what you want from your interior design
What emotion do you want your house to evoke? While some people would benefit from an energetic mix of bright colours, others may prefer to feel more relaxed or nurtured in their homes.
It’s important to decide your intentions in advance so you can choose your colour combinations and decorations with a single goal in mind. This will ensure your home has a flawless, cohesive style once you’re finished.
2. Look for inspiration
Once you know what your end goal is, you can start looking for inspiration. Since dopamine décor is about the intentions behind your design rather than a singular aesthetic, you may want to explore different trends so you can assess what you like and dislike about each one.
For example, if you prefer a tidier, minimalist approach, you might want to draw inspiration from Scandinavian architecture and interior design. But if you prefer a maximalist aesthetic, you may search for bold patterns or exciting colours to use in your home.
3. Incorporate the things you love
Decorating your house should bring you joy, so it’s important to fill your home with the things you love. Whether it’s photos of your family or putting your hobbies on display, put your most prized possessions at the forefront of your design.
Don’t bring anything meaningless into your home just to adhere to a trend. Be true to yourself, and honour your happiest memories by placing reminders of them around your house.
4. Focus on accents
Don’t worry if you’re nervous about painting your entire house in neon colours, you still don’t have to stick solely to white and beige. Try giving the room a neutral base tone, and then spruce it up with a few splashes of colour.
Textures can also play an important part in livening up a room. Adding an unusual finish to your design can add an element of interest without using bright paints. For example, you could add a stone counter in your kitchen or exposed brick walls in your office.
5. Prioritise your comfort
Your home should be comfortable as well as stylish. You spend most of your time in your house, so your wellbeing and convenience are paramount.
Consider the purpose of each room and whether your family is using it to its full potential. If you have a dining room that goes unused, think about whether you might benefit more by transforming it into an office or space for your hobbies.
