Artist Patrick de Veyra has always been obsessed with the idea of images and appropriation. As recently as last year, he curated two exhibits for Faculty Projects which tackle the idea of how we deal and define the images we use today. Storm in a Teacup, his most recent exhibition at West Gallery, circles around […]
Dopamine Decorating: Creating a Free and Happy Space at Home
Ever feel overwhelmed with decorating your space? With new trends constantly emerging, it’s hard to choose a single style. But here’s the secret: your home should reflect YOU, not a passing fad. Let’s focus on creating a space that sparks joy! Dopamine decorating liberates you from the pressures of mainstream designs and leaves it all to your happy hormones to spruce up your home.
Dopamine as a Hormone and Decoration
Before we delve deeper into the creative side of this playful trend, let’s first explore its scientific aspect.
Dopamine is known as the “feel-good hormone.” It transmits and releases chemical impulses causing a sense of pleasure, reward, and motivation. Dopamine release is usually the result of simple survival behaviors like eating and drinking. But now, even home decorating contributes to trigger this addictive joyful feeling.
So, dopamine decorating basically consists of any furnishing or decorative detail that personally sparks delight and happiness in you. There’s no textbook look for adopting this style as it’s about going all out in incorporating vibrant colors, clashing galore, and designs you truly enjoy. Since it varies from person to person, happiness in space can take any form and the design possibilities are limitless.
Origins and Psychology
Dopamine decorating originated from a fashion psychology concept called “dopamine dressing.” It began during the distressing pandemic years when people needed a dopamine boost. Similar to its interior design counterpart, this clothing style heavily prioritizes joy when picking a wardrobe. It heavily leans toward overstatement couture with personal symbolic value, and therefore brings the person joy when worn.
According to interior designer Saniya Kantawala, dopamine decorating is also a trip down memory lane. Walls filled with posters of our favorite artists, perky over-the-bed signs, and corners crowded with collections defined the carefree bedroom we’ve outgrown. In a way, this decorating style fulfills our childhood longing for things that once made us happy.
Whatever the objective may be, dopamine decorating gives you complete freedom to curate a home that instantly uplifts your spirit.
How to Dopamine Decorate
Although it creates a safe space to candidly express your happiness, there are a few considerations when dopamine decorating. Because they are prone to create a chaotic design outcome, here are a few tips to maintain a dopamine-inducing interior.
Don’t be shy with colors
These days, every space needs a splash of color. Decorate it with your favorite hues and make it the star of the show. You can combine them with neutral bases to highlight the chosen color or make an eye-catching contrast by creating mixed color schemes. To make it more noticeable, apply it on negative spaces like walls, floors, and ceilings, or large furniture. For a more subtle approach, you can still up your dopamine levels with colorful book covers, pots, vases, and candles.
Organize your happy items
Dopamine decor allows you to freely incorporate all your dopamine-boosting home items anywhere you want. But it doesn’t mean you have to leave them cluttered. Arrange them in quirky styled shelves and cabinets, or make a wall gallery for things you always want to see. Not only do they make your space a juxtaposition between neat and frenzy, they also add visual interest and depth.
Opt for sustainable decor
Since the goal is to make a personal mood-enhancing interior, decorate them with things you already have. Own your space by putting framed photos, vintage heirlooms, or retro items that evoke fond memories. And because the intention is to uplift your spirit every time you walk through your house, you can save yourself from hoarding impersonal items. Aside from developing thoughtful and intentional purchasing habits, you’ll also learn how to recycle and upcycle treasured antiques.
Dopamine decor is more than just expressive items and styles to uplift your spirit. It is a creative freedom driven by positive emotions against confining established designs. It is a core principle that could be a stepping stone toward more personalized living spaces. So, if you’re tired of following design trends, do it your way and break the rules with happiness.
Read more: Gucci Hub: How to Make Adaptive Reuse Fashionably Sustainable
Smart Home Philippines continues to solidify its position as a leader in smart home innovation, receiving the prestigious Best Interior Design Smart Home in Asia Pacific award at the IPAX Global Property Awards 2024-2025. Held at the Savoy Hotel in London, this recognition underscores the brand’s commitment to seamlessly integrating state-of-the-art technology with modern, functional […]
Kärcher, the German multinational company known for their cleaning machines, debuted the newest part of their 2025 Cultural Initiative as they partnered with the Intramuros Administration to clean up the walls of Fort Santiago. A “restorative cleaning effort” done to celebrate the company’s 90th anniversary, Kärcher’s team focused on cleaning up the wall facade and […]
To celebrate the 45th anniversary of Primex Printers, Chief Marketing Officer Mariel Ching and Creative Director Gio Prado put together The Infinite Dot. The exhibit functions as a showcase of the capabilities of modern-day fine art printing, giving audiences a taste of the flexibility of the form to different ideas. The exhibit’s name comes from […]
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Seeing the spectrum of human emotions as fragile is a concept as old as time. The way emotions break and mold itself to our environment is the subject of a lot of art. What Ciane Xavier does with Breaking to Mend, however, is to capture these emotions in porcelain, literalizing the conceptual framework interplaying with […]
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