'Dopamine Decor' Can Make Your Home Happier

For anyone who craves color, comfort, and nostalgia, modern living spaces can seem dull. But figuring out how to fit your own personality into your home's decor can be tricky, especially if you want a cohesive, pulled-together look. Luckily, there's a design style that can help you get all your cozy, dreamy, good-feeling elements together for a home environment aimed at making you feel happy: "dopamine decor."

Dopamine is a brain chemical that is best known for being involved in pleasure and reward pathways. The actual biology of dopamine isn't quite that simple, but when we talk about dopamine decor (or its fashion equivalent, dopamine dressing) we're using "dopamine" as a shorthand for things that make you feel good.

Dopamine decor is all about you

The great thing about dopamine decor is that it's easy to do yourself--in fact, it almost requires it. With its focus on nostalgia and personal tastes, dopamine decor's main characteristic is: it must feel good to you. Even if you don't physically do all of the painting, wallpapering, or decorating, the process is geared to center your preferences.

Dopamine decor is easy to do yourself

Dopamine decor can be relatively cheap--you can use items you already have or thrifted items that you've made your own. Because the main idea is to use decor that feels good, you can switch up smaller elements like pillows or paint color to make a big impact. Selecting one big statement piece and adding a corresponding color to your space can change the feel of a room without requiring a total renovation.

The main elements of dopamine decor

Color is a big factor in the dopamine decor style. While you should use colors that feel good, keep in mind that there are some colors that have a tendency to promote feelings of happiness and well-being. While the scientific research still has a long way to go, many people report feeling uplifted, happy, or more alert around certain colors. Bright blues, yellows, pinks, bright green, and orange are all colors that can bring you a sense of joy.

Adding greenery can liven up your space. According to research, house plants can make you feel more relaxed. So not only are houseplants visually appealing--they help with your mental wellbeing, too. Since there are all kinds of different kinds of plants to choose from, this is an element that you can personalize, based on your indoor gardening experience and know-how.

Using pieces that provide a sense of nostalgia--like a poster from your favorite movie when you were a kid, or a pattern that brings to mind a favorite place--is an important step to achieving the dopamine decor look. That wallpaper that reminds you of your beloved grandmother's house belongs on your walls. Think of colors, textures, and imagery that evoke a feeling of joyful sentimentality. Anything that inspires or deepens a sense of joy can have a place in your home.

Use a single color palette to tie everything together

Pulling all of your elements together into one design can be tricky with an eclectic assortment of things. The secret: Tie everything together with a single color palette. Experimenting with fabrics, paint colors, patterns, and textures to keep a consistent color mood throughout your room is key. Since using more than one pattern can cause clashing, staying within a color palette and setting an overall tone for your space is important. Using a single color in multiple shades or picking two or three colors to stick to can help when choosing your color scheme.

Use a mood board or samples to hone your vision

If you're not thoughtful with your choices, a dopamine-inspired design can start to look like you're preparing for a garage sale. Using everything that ever made you feel nostalgic or energetic can overwhelm a pace. Create a mood board and narrow down your favorite pieces to create a space that feels joyful and not chaotic. You can also experiment by laying out fabrics and paint samples together with some of your decor pieces to get a sense of how it will all look together.