The dopamine decor trend is about putting your personality at the center of the project: something that never goes out of style. For those who don’t know, dopamine is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger that, when released in the brain, induces feelings of happiness.

Imagine your childhood bedroom: colorful walls, geometric patterned duvets, endless collections of stuffed animals, posters of your idol. The concept is simple: before you understood your aesthetic, you simply decorated your space with pieces that made you happy. So you are probably already quite familiar with dopamine decor.

The next time you scroll on TikTok and feel the urge to order a pillow or a coffee table, ask yourself if it will truly make you happy to look at it in the years to come. Keep an eye out for classic pieces that reflect your interests and unique style, and if you can, buy second-hand: if you’re seeking the thrill of purchasing, this choice will also make you feel fulfilled.

How to change your room

The trend of making rooms more comfortable, functional, and personal took off during the pandemic when many people were confined to their homes. Decor is flooded with aesthetic “cores”: Barbiecore, cottagecore, mermaidcore, etc.

But this doesn’t mean we are bouncing from one trend to another; it simply means that people are defining their style much more quickly, getting to the root of design, even if it means being more colorful, original, and yes, even kitsch.

Social media are our allies

If, 15 years ago, we all wanted the perfect kitchen we saw on TV, today it’s just about taking a trend or a beautiful interior you see on TikTok, Instagram, or Pinterest and extracting the details you love.

But despite this, it’s interesting to note that dopamine furnishings are a sustainable approach to interiors. Introducing vintage pieces, recycled items gives new life to antiques, whether they are furniture or artworks, as the intent is to decorate the space with pieces that evoke happy memories and encourages you to be more mindful of your purchases. It could be choosing wallpaper that takes you back to childhood or upholstering with vibrant colors a chair gifted by your grandmother.

Antique furniture, retro kitchen appliances, and vintage artifacts are just some of the other elements that can be perfectly integrated into this aesthetic.

Colors, colors, and more colors

Since dopamine furnishings aim to instill a sense of fulfillment, it is deeply personal and individualistic: thus making the home a reflection of your personality through color, texture, placement, and composition should be your mantra.

From having a specific custom piece as the focal point of the living room to creating something exclusive in an almost forgotten corner, conveying dopamine through furnishings is subjective and different. However, it is possible to add a touch of playfulness and adopt an organic approach, through the use of certain colors, such as orange, pink, yellow, lime green, and cobalt blue. These tones, used generously, light up the space and keep joyful vibes alive; finally, adding patterns, textures, and earthy materials to an already bright space revives it and boosts its energy level.

Photo credits: Homes & Gardens / Decorilla