Make Your Home Happier with These Dopamine-Inducing Decorating Tips
Whether big or small, in a bustling city or quiet neighborhood, your home should serve as a safe haven—a place of rest, relaxation, and comfort. While some people gravitate to neutral tones for a sense of calm, others might prefer pops of color and statement pieces.
Home should be a sanctuary of happiness and joy that reflects your personal style and because of this, a recent design trend has emerged known as dopamine decorating.
Dopamine is the hormone in the brain that gives you feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. Inspired by the “feel good” hormone, dopamine decorating is about embracing nostalgia, whimsy, and the things you love rather than following a step-by-step guide to setting up your space. It’s about infusing warmth and happiness in a way that’s uniquely you.
Here are some tips to get you going:
Refresh your front entrance: Welcome guests with joyful mats, a fresh coat of paint on your door or entryway walls, and keepsakes that make you smile are simple ways to liven up the front of your home.
Get ‘round to it: Round corners are gentle and soft. Consider rounded decor accents like circular pillows, woven bowls, cushions, and scalloped lamp shades.
Brighten up: Adding color is an effective way to spruce up space and change up its’ vibe. Warm colors like yellow, orange, and pink are energizing while cool colors such as green, blue, and violet are calming and peaceful. If you want to liven up a space without pulling out the paint brush, you can add color with bright pillows, bold blankets, and vases, along with cheerful planters and colorful curtains.
It smells good in here: Essential oils are great mood boosters, particularly citrus scents like lemon and orange. Prefer the smell of rose and jasmine? Research suggests that floral scents can also boost feelings of happiness.
Let the sun shine in: Allow sunlight to wash through your windows to add cheer to your home; natural light has positive effects on mental and physical health, so open up those curtains and windows!
Frame photos from good times: When’s the last time you updated the photos in your home? Hang pictures that capture your happiest memories.
Go for the green: Plants provide a ton of benefits, including purifying the air, helping lower blood pressure, and reducing stress. Ask a friend if they can share a few sprigs off their favorite house plants and place them on windowsills in your brightest rooms.
Add lighting: Lamps can set a cozy mood. The general recommendation is to have three to four lighting sources in each room. For some warmth and ambiance, add twinkling string lights, a couple of candles, and lights with dimmer switches.
Tidy up: Research shows that clutter can contribute to depression and confusion and decreases the ability to focus. Clearing away clutter allows the brain to focus on tasks one at a time. The act of tidying up and cleaning requires us to slow down, which can offer a calming effect during overwhelming situations and help us explore and manage our emotions.
Buy the bouquet: Flowers are scientifically proven to make you feel better. They can decrease worry and anxiety, and help you feel less depressed.
With some easy tweaks and changes you can ensure your home is a haven filled with calm and comfort. Have fun rethinking your space!
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