What is dopamine décor?

One of the most exciting aspects about moving home is starting afresh with your interior design. A new property is a blank canvas, with the chance to express yourself in line with personal tastes or the latest home fashions.  

Probably the most hard-to-ignore trend seen across interior design magazines and social media is dopamine décor but what exactly is this style? Dopamine décor is a feel-good approach to decorating, using the colours, textures and patterns that bring the most joy to each individual. As such, there is no single colour palette to work from or style to follow.   

The dopamine aspect refers to the chemical messenger that is released into the brain when we see or feel something we like, inducing a feeling of happiness. In interior design, this leans heavily on the colours chosen and their effect on someone’s mood.   

You’d be hard pushed to find an example of dopamine décor that’s safely neutral or dominated by shades of grey. Instead, rooms are full of vivid colours, clashing patterns and textures.  

This doesn’t mean dopamine décor is messy or chaotic. Quite the reverse. Many of the best dopamine décor examples are highly curated and meticulously planned so the overriding effect is happiness and not haphazard.  

Where to start with dopamine décor

Our advice is to start with a colour wheel – simply Google the phrase and you’ll be presented with the classic circular pigment guide. From here, you can identify the base colours that you like.  

Clashing colours

The biggest visual impact when decorating comes from colours that don’t harmonise. When looking at a colour wheel, these are colours that are opposite each other, such as green and purple or blue and orange. 

Complementary colours

If clashing colours feel too uncomfortable, you can choose complementary colours, which sit next to each other on the colour wheel. This could be golden yellow, true yellow and chartreuse green, or it could be red-violet, purple and fuchsia.  

Different shades of the same colour

If one colour really stands out as your favourite, it can be harnessed for a really impactful dopamine décor. For example, visit a decorating centre or DIY store and head for the colour mixing paint charts. Here you can find your favourite colour, such as cobalt blue, alongside the light and darker versions.  

Many dopamine décors incorporate retro patterns from the 1960s and 1970s – think geometric shapes and stylised flowers in orange, brown, turquoise and mauve. Charity shops and reselling websites are a great place to pick up authentic items, or Orla Kiely’s retro-inspired homeware is available in High street stores, including John Lewis, and extensively online.  

What if I’m renting a property?

Unless your tenancy agreement gives you permission to redecorate the property to your specific taste, it’s highly likely your backdrop will be walls painted in a shade of magnolia or white. This doesn’t mean dopamine décor is off the cards.  

A neutral backdrop allows you to incorporate colour, pattern and texture through accessories and artwork. Your dopamine hit could come from something as simple as different coloured cushions on your sofa, clusters of vases in clashing patterns or a multi coloured rug.  

If you’re looking to move to a new home and would like to see a list of available properties, please get in touch.