Dopamine décor
We take a look at the mood-boosting trend that’s turning homes technicolour, and share some tips on how you can give your space the feel-good treatment.
What is dopamine décor?
You may have heard of dopamine dressing – the recent trend for wearing bright colours that can’t help but put a smile on your face. Well this year, you can say hello to more colour in your home thanks to dopamine décor. While neutral palettes will always remain popular, this colourful movement is all about creating bold, uplifting surroundings that cause our brains to create dopamine – the ‘feel-good’ chemical that plays a big part in how we experience pleasure.
Search for ‘dopamine décor’ on Pinterest and you’ll be greeted by a kaleidoscope of colour, clashing patterns and funky shapes. Any shade goes, although bright pastels have proven particularly popular. Essentially, it’s about harnessing happiness and spreading it throughout your home, with an end result that’s perfectly tailored to you.
So, does it really work?
Colour theory has shown that certain colours do have associations with particular emotional responses, and injecting colour into a space can be an instant mood-booster. Fiery reds and oranges are known to stimulate energy and creativity, yellow is traditionally thought of as a happy colour, while blue and greens are typically associated with stability and nature.
What’s even truer, however, is that we all have unique personal responses to colours. So if a pastel purple feature wall is the way to your heart, that’s what you should do.
Give your home the dopamine treatment
Groovy baby
If you’ve been into any clothing or interiors shops in the last couple of years you’ll know that the 70s have been back in a big way, and this retro resurgence is a great way to lean into the dopamine décor trend. The bold colour schemes and disco vibes of the 60s and 70s lend themselves fabulously to the more-is-more approach of dopamine décor. From eye-catching patterned wallpaper to statement light fittings, 60s and 70s styling adds a touch of nostalgia that can warm the heart – and you can also snap up some real retro finds for bargain prices on second-hand sites.
Zone your home
If trying to pack every colour of the rainbow into one room seems a bit overwhelming, why not use certain colours in certain areas depending on the mood you want to create. You could use vivid oranges and pinks to energise your living space, and emerald greens and rich blues for a touch of opulence in the bedroom. This is also a nice route to go down if you don’t want to fully commit to the trend – it might be that you just feel more soothed by a crisp white bathroom than a bright yellow one. The beauty of this trend is that it’s whatever brings you joy.
It’s all in the balance
While the whole idea of the dopamine décor trend is maximalism and clashing colours, you want the overall effect to be uplifting, not stress-inducing. Go ahead and paint your kitchen units bubblegum pink, but throw some other complementary colours into the mix to break up the space. Likewise, heavily textured and patterned soft furnishings can look fantastic, even more so when set against a plain block colour to really make them pop.
Have fun!
One of the reasons this trend has really captured hearts is the fact that you can throw away the decorating rulebook and just do what makes you happy. The tangerine tasselled lampshade you’ve secretly been eyeing up? Add to basket. A zebra-print cushion to go on your new fuschia sofa? You do you. This is the year of setting aside how you think your home should look, and doing whatever sparks joy.
(image credits @the_little_brodick and @ourhouseatnumber27)
Show us your true colours!
Like the look of the dopamine décor trend? We’d love to see how you incorporate bright colours and feel-good style into your home. Tag us in your photos on Instagram using #charleschurchlife for a chance to win a £100 John Lewis voucher. Visit our Facebook page for terms and conditions.
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