Originally featured in The Style List Travel Special E-Magazine
Turn your home into an eclectic mood board!
Bold colours have brightened up the International Fashion Week circuit in recent seasons, with bright cropping up both on and off the runway. Termed 'dopamine dressing' for its feel-good, mood-boosting qualities and elevated emotional well-being through sartorial choices, fashion enthusiasts have been basking in the glory of the vast, bold, colour palette. Known as the happiness factor, the dopamine trend is currently enjoying its glory not only in the world of fashion but also in home decor. This trend—like dopamine dressing—is all about putting your personality front and centre, which never goes out of style.
In the landscape of interior design, home decor trends come and go like seasons, each promising a fresh perspective on how we inhabit our spaces. The focal point of the trend is the idea of surrounding yourself with furniture, art, and objects that make you happy. Thinking about it this way allows you to choose the colours and styles that suit your mood because colour has a profound impact on people’s moods in their homes. "It’s amazing how colours, patterns and textures can create an everlasting impact of happiness on one's mind. The happy colours, while you walk into a room, infuse your mind with enhanced creativity and joy," says Krsnaa Mehta founder, of India Circus.
"The happy colours, while you walk into a room, infuse your mind with enhanced creativity and joy," - Krsnaa Mehta founder, of India Circus.
Talking about dopamine decor in a nutshell, it's all about elevating your living space with vibrant hues and dynamic patterns that collide to spark joy in every corner and transform your home into a sanctuary of style and delight. Eschewing from the concept of minimalism, dopamine decor is about going all out. For Nitin Kohli, Founder and Principal Designer of Nitin Kohli Home adding dopamine decor into your home revolves around crafting spaces that not only please the eye but also stimulate the mind and elevate the spirit. By choosing hues like electric blue, neon pink, and sunny yellow, we stimulate the brain's emotional centres, fostering a sense of joy and excitement. The ultimate goal is to craft homes that not only look stunning but also make us feel alive and inspired," he accurately summarises.
Photo Courtesy: Nitin Kohli Home
"The ultimate goal is to craft homes that not only look stunning but also make us feel alive and inspired," - Nitin Kohli, Founder and Principal Designer of Nitin Kohli Home
What is dopamine decor?
Dopamine Décor is inspired by the idea of curating spaces that stimulate feelings of pleasure and joy. This playful trend seeks to create environments that evoke a sense of happiness and well-being through the careful selection of colours, textures, and objects. From vibrant hues to cosy textures, every element is chosen to trigger the release of dopamine. Think bold accent walls, plush rugs, and an abundance of cheerful artwork adorning the walls. Given that joy means different things to people, the trend as a whole is subjective, deeply personal and individualistic. Hence making your home a reflection of your personality via colour, texture, placement and composition is the mantra. Because after all, our homes should be sanctuaries which reflect our personality and where we can unwind and recharge amidst the chaos of daily life. "The allure of Dopamine Decor has taken centre stage, celebrating the fusion of vibrant hues, whimsical patterns, and quirky curios to ignite feelings of exuberance and vitality," comments, Sidhant Lamba, Founder, Strrot. From resplendent colours to whimsical accents and striking furniture pieces, the mission is to craft spaces that radiate warmth and happiness."
"Dopamine Decor has taken centre stage, celebrating the fusion of vibrant hues, whimsical patterns, and quirky curios to ignite feelings of exuberance and vitality," - Sidhant Lamba, Founder, Strrot
Photo Courtesy: Seletti on Strrot and Sidhant Lamba, Founder, Strrot
How to add the trend to your home
While most of us dream of doing a full-scale renovation when it comes to a new trend, we don’t even have to go that far. The best part about dopamine decor is that you can begin with friendly upgrades and accessories from colourful planters to cosy throw blankets and pillows, and even funky paintings and posters are easy elements to fold into a room. And don’t forget that if neutrals make you happy, that’s also part of dopamine decorating. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant hues of life, leading designers in the field share insights on how to infuse your home with the spirit of dopamine decor. The core idea is an aesthetic mix and match of colours, patterns and design elements.
After recently unveiling the collektklove store at The Dhan Mill, Prateek Jain, Co-Founder KLOVE Studio and collektklove recommends choosing a vibrant wallpaper that resonates with your aesthetic. He goes on to say, "Add kitschy statement collectibles to your shelves and cabinets." For those seeking a more subdued interpretation of the trend, Gautam Seth, Co-Founder of Klove Studio and collektklove, advises, "If rainbow hues are too much for you, then stick to one favourite colour. Try painting your kitchen cabinets in a playful hue instead of a neutral white or wood."
"If rainbow hues are too much for you, then stick to one favourite colour." - Gautam Seth, Co-Founder of Klove Studio and collektklove
Moving to the living room, Nitin Kohli, a seasoned design expert, highlights the role of standout furniture pieces and luxurious velvet accents in elevating the dopamine decor experience."Adding standout furniture pieces, luxurious velvet accents, and interactive features further elevate the experience, creating spaces that not only dazzle the eye but also engage the senses, encouraging exploration and playfulness."
In agreement with the multisensory nature of dopamine decor, Ajay Arya, Founder and Interior Designer at A Square Designs, says "Lush tropical plants infuse vitality and freshness, while strategically placed mirrors amplify light, mood, and perceived space, elevating ambiance. Bold rugs serve as artistic anchors, offering visual intrigue and grounding. The scattering of colourful vases, sculptures, and unique decorative pieces imbues personality and charm, ensuring every corner tells a story. It's about crafting environments that not only stimulate but celebrate individuality, creating homes that resonate with happiness and inspire endless exploration."
"It's about crafting environments that not only stimulate but celebrate individuality, creating homes that resonate with happiness and inspire endless exploration." - Ajay Arya, Founder and Interior Designer at A Square Designs
One of the easiest and most fun ways to add the dopamine decor trend is through tablescaping! Anandita Kothari, founder of Plate & Peonie, emphasizes the importance of harmony in dopamine decor tablescapes, "Mix and match vibrant colours, interesting textures, and vivid patterns to breathe life into any tablescape. Further, use the colour palette of your home as your foundation and build up from there. Whether it’s small accent details to large centrepieces, a candle holder, a collection of vases, or your everyday essential dining plates or glasses, don’t be afraid to add colour, texture, and patterns to the mix, it keeps the home always vibrant!"
"Don’t be afraid to add colour, texture, and patterns to the mix, it keeps the home always vibrant!"
However, like any trend, the dopamine décor movement is not without its challenges. "One must be sure before diving into colours, as too many colours can create a lot of emotions and sometimes that can bring a tad bit of restlessness," cautions Mehta. By striking a delicate balance between vibrancy and coherence, you can create a home that resonates with happiness and fosters endless exploration.