Your Guide To: Dopamine Decorating
One of the biggest trends recently is ‘Dopamine Dressing’, or the act of dressing in colors and styles that lift your spirits, and you guessed it, increase your dopamine levels. You may know the feeling of wearing that favorite shirt, shoes, or jacket, but can the same feeling be created through your wall paint or interior design choices? Dopamine Decorating suggests it can! Read our guide for how to decorate your space to lift your spirits!
Start off Small
If the thought of filling your home with hundreds of different colors and patterns makes your inner minimalist weep, try starting small. Find a lamp in your favorite color, and style around that. Make sure you put it in a space that when you see it, it’ll brighten up your day (both literally and figuratively!)
If in doubt, Think Pink.
Pink has been on our radars for a couple years now in various shades. From the infamous ‘Millennial Pink’, to Pantone's color of the year ‘Viva Magenta’, pink is here to stay. If you’re worried about it looking ultra-feminine or chintzy, opt for items in modern and simple shapes, and keep your surroundings simple.
Go Bold
Using intense and bold colors in our spaces can generate physiological and psychological responses, and they also have the power to trigger nostalgia and bring back positive experiences. Tap into a more carefree, courageous and child-like version of yourself by splashing your favorite color on the wall, or get that sofa in the bright orange or blue.
Build around your key color
Worried that dopamine decorating will turn your space into a chaotic mess of color? Pick one key point and build around that. Use the largest item with color as your foundation and work from there to build a space that truly brings you joy. If it’s a painted feature wall (or ceiling), find a sofa, dining table, or bed that matches this theme. As you work your way through from largest to smallest, you’ll see what items match and make you happiest to look at when they’re near each other.
Remember, it’s about what makes you happy
It’s not just any bright colors that can lift us, we’ve got to choose the right ones that will affect us in the right way. The colors you choose should be ones that make you happiest, so ignore the current trends and go for your favorites. Don’t worry about a colour being too dated, if you add your own personal style any color will feel refreshing and personal. Remember, this is about choosing things that bring you joy.