Dopamine Décor Is the Design Trend Guaranteed to Make You Happy—Here's How to Try It in Your Home

If you’ve been struck by the stream of colorful interiors crossing your social media feeds lately, you’re probably experiencing the dopamine effect. Dopamine is one of the feel-good chemicals in the human brain—and the hormone plays a role in the way we mark and remember pleasurable experiences. The dopamine décor aesthetic is all about decorating in a way that stimulates the brain through the use of layered colors and patterns, and playful hints of nostalgia. 

Creating the look is not as easy as it may seem, as it takes a thoughtful approach to mixing bold colors, patterns, and textures, while still keeping everything cohesive. "Although the goal of dopamine décor is to enrich the senses and even seem chaotic, the looks are actually curated scenes with appropriate scale, complementary colors, and textures that all work together towards a whole,” says Sarah Tiedeken, partner at Vertical Arts Architecture.

We spoke with interior designers about what this design trend is, and how you can bring the happy aesthetic into your home.

What Is Dopamine Décor?

In short, dopamine décor infuses your home with a design aesthetic that makes you feel good. Seen as the antidote to the overabundance of monochromatic gray, beige, and greige interiors, it's more than just "a pop" of color against a neutral background. It’s taking a mix of colors and textures, art, and décor to an extreme and getting them all to play well together.

"Would the items you pick at least be attending the same party?" asks Tiedeken. "The best dopamine décor can strike that perfect balance of objects that all seem to talk to each other. Think a mid-century vintage lamp against a new mid-century-inspired colorful sofa and rug, but maybe that '90s rooster cookie jar can’t fit into the same scene and make sense. The elements should still tie into your personal style and the character of the overall space."

How to Bring Dopamine Décor Into Your Home

When Kara Harms of Whimsy Homes purchased an old cabin in Arnold, Calif., near Calaveras Big Trees State Park, she knew was going to be undoing decades of dated décor. But she was up for the challenge—and not afraid to go wild with color. She painted the main living space—walls, doors, and even the wood floors—a bright shamrock green, and the adjacent kitchen bubblegum pink. Then she brought in even more color with kitschy wallpapers, pop-art posters, and brightly colored textiles. 

"Color makes me happy," she says. "In a world that is actively losing color and becoming more beige, gray, and white, choosing a very over-the-top décor scheme was a strategic move to stand out. In a sea of white living rooms with leather couches and fringe wall hangings, our home jumps out and screams 'I'm fun!'" 

If you’re keen to give dopamine décor a try, consider these tips from the pros on how to pull off the look.

Blend Bright Colors

When it comes to colorful kitchens, a good design often begins with a single color choice, says Leila Toulan, co-founder at Pluck, a UK design studio that makes custom cabinets and other furnishings. One of her clients—"a very creative, craft and art loving client, who knew instinctively how to match pattern and color," she says—chose Pluck cabinets in pink. Now that they’re joined by a floral wall covering and vintage table and chairs, her kitchen practically embodies the dopamine aesthetic. "The design started with the cabinetry and grew from there with the intention of layering colors and designs to give this new kitchen an established feel," says Toulan. 

Maximize Monochrome

On another such project, interior designer Zoe Murphy of Stealth Design says her clients made a bold first choice of yellow cabinets, and the rest of the design flowed from there. 

"I’ve been working with them for a few years and knew they were set on the idea of having a yellow kitchen," says Murphy. "They were also super keen to have a Pluck kitchen, as they loved the slightly mid-century but playful vibe. When we couldn’t find a color in their existing palette that quite hit the spot, Pluck very generously helped us to find just the right shade of sunshine yellow. Then we were all thrilled when Pluck added it to their offering as Hollingbourne Yellow, named after the street where we all live."

With all the cabinets—base, wall, and tall—a bright yellow, it could be overwhelming in a different setting. But the backsplash tile and pendant lights in jewel tones play a complementary role. "We’d already developed a color scheme in earlier work we’d done on the house. The scheme is rainbow!" says Murphy. "The key is to use colors in similar intensities and judge the positioning of those elements—so that no one element is lost."

Add Winning Wallpaper

Touwen’s client with the pink cabinets chose a floral wallpaper that has bits of the same pink in it and—surprise—a checkerboard floor. In any other room, a busy floor might have clashed, but here it works.

"Combining the checkerboard flooring with the floral wallpaper and Ruskin Blossom cabinetry, creates a juxtaposition of geometric and organic shapes, bold and soft colors," says Touwen. "But due to the colors of the floor—a pale gray and darker blue—it’s a very clever device that unites the scheme, as tonally the floor harmonizes with the cupboard and wallpaper colors. Cover up the floor with your hand on this photograph and imagine a monochrome checkerboard or even pale floorboards, completely different."

Or Pick an Eye-Popping Tile

Wallpaper isn’t the only way to tie in all the elements in a colorful kitchen. Consider also a bold geometric tile in complementary colors. In Stealth Design’s canary yellow kitchen, this geometric tile set in an irregular pattern functions almost as pop art. "The tile is Puzzle by Barber Osgerby," says Murphy. "The backsplash is pretty punchy, but doesn’t dominate because the yellow is a strong statement too."

All the designers favor a good bold tile. "We love Popham tile," says Tiedeken. "You can handpick the colors, patterns, and installation layout to create a one-of-a-kind statement."

Play With Bold Patterns

There’s no doubt about it, layering patterns takes a skillful eye. The trick is to find a unifying element to make them all work—often that unifying element is color.

Start by choosing patterns that have certain colors in common, says Sabrina Panizza and Aude Lerin, co-founders of PL Studio, an interior design firm in London. "To employ mixing bold patterns effectively, it is crucial to select colors within the same family, such as warm and bright tones or cold and muted shades. This ensures cohesion even with diverse patterns." The duo also advises using solid colors as an anchor and distributing patterns evenly throughout the space.

Veer Toward Vintage

Retro furnishings are another key element of the dopamine aesthetic, as vintage décor so often prompts feelings of nostalgia, happiness, and humor. And all of this affects the way we feel when we’re in a space—or just admiring one from afar.

"Opt for pieces that resonate with the existing color scheme or introduce complementary hues; additionally, mix modern and vintage elements in balance to maintain visual interest without overwhelming the space," says Panizza and Lerin.

Use vintage pieces as focal points or accents to create cohesion and a sense of curated eclecticism, they add. PL Studio favors the mid-century modern design aesthetic of the 1950s and 1960s, as shown in the above seating area.

Have Fun With Funky Furnishings

Once you’ve set the tone with colors and patterns, bring in a touch of humor with a few fun furniture pieces, like this "hand" table. It’s sure to evoke a smile.

"The key is to select items that resonate on a personal level; choose objects that you genuinely love and that evoke a sense of nostalgia or excitement," says Panizza and Lerin. "By curating a space with items that hold personal significance, you infuse it with authenticity and create a truly unique and inviting environment."

Look for Upstart Upholstery Patterns

Larger upholstered furnishings, such as sofas, chairs, and ottomans can make their own color statement. Mix and match patterns in individual pieces—or look for modular styles that mix a blend of patterns juxtaposed with textured solids.

"Our team loves Missoni for some go-to fabric palettes that really shine," says Tiedeken. "The curated palettes have a bunch of beautiful patterns, solids, and corduroys that all work together towards a cohesive, yet eclectic vibe."

Finally, Add Art

Pop art was the mid-century rebellion from traditional, representative art forms and it had a big impact on interior design. So it should come as no surprise that its bright colors and bold graphics strike just the right playful and rebellious chord in the dopamine design aesthetic. 

"My apartment is full of color, texture, and art," says Harms, who created a gallery wall of framed pop-art posters above her sofa. Whether you choose to combine a lot of smaller pieces or isolate a few large prints as statement pieces, art is the cherry on top. But how to pull it off?  

"Think scale, texture, and intent," says Tiedeken. "What is each piece you are adding meant to achieve? Is an art collage grounding the sofa sitting below it?" If it gives you a jolt of happiness every time you look at it, you know you’re on the right track.