Dopamine Decor Aesthetic

We see it here and there: the funky chicken hidden in the front garden, the quirky soapdish brought home from a Mexican bizarre, or whimsical holiday decor that makes us smile every time it's pulled out of storage for the season. Decor that makes us feel good, or “dopamine decor,” has always been around but usually hidden between more conservative decor options or left for kids’ rooms and special occasions. However, the years spent at home during the pandemic kickstarted the desire for surroundings that make us feel good, and the trend for feel-good decor is only gaining steam.

Dopamine What?

Dopamine is known commonly as the “feel-good” hormone that floods our brain when we experience something pleasurable, such as a favorite food, an enjoyable activity, or even recalling a fond memory. We naturally crave dopamine rushes, and many of us find them in arguably unhealthy ways, such as consuming sugar. But there’s a healthier, better way to achieve a similar happiness: dopamine design.

Dopamine Design

Dopamine design is all about bringing elements into our home, be it a unique dachshund serving dish or a bougie leopard statue, that make us happy. Dopamine decor is specific to the individual and doesn’t ground itself in any one trend but center’s on an individual’s likes and dislikes. For one person, this may mean a room covered in Barbie pink, or for another, a room adorned in their favorite sports team colors and collectibles. While dopamine decor tends to fall on the more maximalist end, with bold colors and bright patterns, the aesthetic allows for a minimalist or maximalist approach because it’s all about what the individual desires.

A Dabble of Dopamine

Many of us have considered the dopamine design approach- but how do you make it work? Can we really just pick whatever we love the most and stick it in a room? Well, yes, it’s your space so do what you want! But if you’re seeking a somewhat more balanced approach to your dopamine design, there are a few tips you can try to start your foray into a happier, more “you” home.

• Find a unique focal point Select one piece that makes you happy and center the room around it. For example, if you’ve found a favorite piece of wall art featuring colorful animals, continue to use those colors throughout the room. Sofas and chairs in color, or complimentary rugs, bring a cohesive feel to a space while still keeping the focus on your dopamine-inducing art work.

• Add themed items Find the theme in your happiness (nature, animals, a favorite color, location-based themes like beach-theme or cottage-theme) and place them in selective places around your room to complement each other and bring you happiness. Throw pillows are an easy and inexpensive way to adorn an existing space in a new aesthetic. Changes in table-top decor and wall art are also easy to accomplish without completely refurbishing an area. Even small changes can bring big dopamine release and with it, big doses of happiness.

• Color If you’re ready to take it to the next level, consider changing your wall color. Ditch the neutrals and find a tone that brings you happiness, whether it be with paint or with fun wallpapers. Adding texture to your walls can help break up a bold color choice to blend it more seamlessly with other bold color choices in furniture or flooring. Utilizing the color wheel and selecting colors opposite from each other can balance a space. An orange sofa brings liveliness and happiness to a room, which works well when partnered with green, which helps to ground a space in peacefulness and serenity. If you’re not sure where to start with colors, check out some of the 2024 Colors of the Year. (LINK TO BLOGS)

• Incorporate neutrals Once the walls are refreshed and fun finishings are obtained, consider incorporating white and black throughout the space to balance out bold color choices. Flooring or rugs in neutral tones can help center a room and bring depth through added texture. A neutral throw blanket can help even out a bright accent chair and achieve the same effect.

Explore what makes you happy and bring it into the home this season to create a truly personalized space to call your own with dopamine decor.