"It Stirs Up Joy in Your Soul!" — Meet Dopamine Decor, 2024's Most Cheerful Interior Design Trend

It's winter, and with short days, long nights, and chilling temperatures, a little pick-me-up can go a long way. Enter 'dopamine decor,' a trending approach on social media that aims to lift our spirits through items designed to spark joy and embrace cheerful and playful decorating styles.

As far as interior design trends go, they really don't come any more cheerful than this. According to Emily Piepenbrink at The Happy Ginger Company, this approach  "is rooted in design that stirs joy up in your soul. It expands the requirements of good design from form and function to form, function, and happiness. If Marie Kondo popped into your place, you could kindly turn her around because everything you've added to your space contributes to your overall joie de vivre." Think bright colors, whimsical fabrics, and tactile materials — don't be afraid to add!

Whether you're a natural maximalist or simply looking to try something new, delve into winter's happiest trend with everything you need to know about dopamine decor.

Dopamine Decor 101

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Dopamine decor effortlessly toes the line between vibrant and whimsical without veering into garish or kitschy territory. Jonathan Adler offers a valuable tip, suggesting, "Think of your home like an outfit your eccentric, rich aunt might wear and layer, layer, layer. As long as you start with a chic foundation, it will work." Additionally, interior designer Artem Kropovinsky emphasizes the importance of balance, suggesting the incorporation of a few more subdued pieces to anchor the playful ones, allowing them to shine.

With these insights in mind, you're well-prepared to embark on your dopamine decor journey.

Color

Dopamine decor breaks away from the monochromatic interiors of previous years, embracing vibrant hues. According to Piepenbrink, "No more whites and neutrals and emotionless palettes. Whatever your favorite color is (consult your wardrobe for inspiration if needed), add it to your rooms. Even a small shelf painted in that color can make a significant difference!"

Patterns

Elevate your colors with patterns — bonus points if they create some sort of movement. Piepenbrink recommends achieving this through curtains. Patterns can range from abstract to florals, though the interior designer is quite fond of polka dots.

Art

"And art. Every room needs some art," insists Piepenbrink. Hunt for the best wall art that "involuntarily make you smile and add them to your cart."

Plants

Recognizing that an indoor garden brimming with plants bring forth life and vitality into a living space, Piepenbrink encourages you to "Embrace your inner gardener. Plants make you feel less alone. Introduce a few easy-to-maintain varieties (start with snake plants and philodendrons) in cheerful terracotta pots, and relish the company they provide."

For more vibrant ideas, refer to design lessons in color theory explained.