For a while in the 2020s, the world of interiors took on a very beige aesthetic, with everything from paint to sofas, and Christmas decorations to children’s toys all being grey and monotone. Understandably, this didn’t work for everyone and so the dopamine décor trend was born.
Dopamine is a feel-good hormone that helps us feel pleasure, and is used by the brain as part of its reward system. Basically, when something good happens to us, our brain releases dopamine which makes us feel happy. Dopamine décor takes its cue from this, and uses specific interior design ideas to increase people’s happiness.
In a nutshell, this trend asks people to layer bold colours and textures in a way that makes them pop. This can be through paint on the wall, but also furniture, objets b’art, family heirlooms, cushions, wallpaper, rugs, thrift finds… Basically, whatever it is that makes you happy.
Even so, there is one thing to keep in mind when opting for dopamine décor: it’s not as straight-forward as it looks. The textures and objects must be put together in a cohesive way in order to ensure that your brain doesn’t look at them as clutter.
As such, there are now dozens of guides on how to add that dopamine boost to your décor in a mindful way. For example, by creating geometric focal points, painting ceilings the same colour as walls, colour blocking, and using patterns.
Of course, decorating your home will always be a personal thing, and so we do recommend doing some research on Pinterest or other online sites to see what tickles your fancy and get a better idea of what works and what doesn’t.
