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Everyone deserves to walk into their home and instantly feel good — and it’s no secret that your surroundings can greatly influence your emotions for the better. A space that feels welcoming and comfortable can make a regular, ordinary day even brighter.
Instead of going for a simple and all-white look, many are now choosing to embrace their own individual style when it comes to home decor, according to Good Housekeeping. This new wave of decorating currently goes by the name of “dopamine decor.” By filling your home with things that feel authentic for you, your space can turn into a place that makes you truly happy.
Design a Home That Reflects Your Style
Dopamine decor is all about decorating according to your personal style. You can use colors and textures to create a space that brings you joy. You might want to cover one room in a color that you love or paint a ceiling.
Another way to incorporate dopamine decor into your home is by creating a gallery wall with art that inspires you. You can also mix unrelated patterns through rugs, throw pillows, and blankets, and experiment with bold tiles and wallpaper. What makes this trend different is that due to people’s varying preferences, every home is unique.
The name of the trend is inspired by dopamine — the brain’s feel-good chemical messenger. As WebMD explains, dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with reward and pleasure. When you experience or see something you enjoy, your brain releases dopamine.
Gaining Popularity
The trend has gained popularity, with the hashtag #dopaminedecor going viral in 2023 and amassing millions of views on TikTok, USA TODAY reports.
“Instead of triggers — things that increase our blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol — dopamine décor is all about finding what I call glimmers: things that bring us joy,” Anita Yokota, a licensed family and marriage therapist, interior designer and author, tells USA TODAY.
Tips for Creating a Joyful Space
However, just as important as adding the right colors to make you smile is to follow other steps. For example, when following this trend, avoid squares and opt for round shapes to feel calmer, due to angular objects’ impact on the amygdala, a part of the brain.
Make sure to avoid clutter and also let go of what no longer serves you. If certain items carry bad memories, it is perfectly okay to release them, and you might even feel emotionally lighter as a result. Lastly, when it comes to this trend, don’t forget about the good times. Add sentimental souvenirs from travels to your space or framed artwork from your kids.
Redesigning your home to bring you more happiness does not have to be overwhelming or costly — in fact, it can be done one step at a time. You can pick up treasures while thrifting or you can DIY something special. Slowly and surely, you can bring more of your personality into your space, and your home can really become your happy place.
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