Deco Dopamine: what changes should be made inside to become happier

If you do not live alone, the task becomes more complicated: any innovation must be discussed and agreed with family members. Sometimes there are unavoidable restrictions: for example, you would be happy to have a few plants indoors, but oleander with its delicious pink flowers is very dangerous for a cat or a small child, and you will therefore have to to do with the “spider” chlorophytum.

However, improving your mood through your interior is a task that can be solved, and it’s not as difficult as it seems when you and your daughter are arguing over which pictures to hang on the living room wall. But before we move on to the instructions for creating a dopamine decor, let’s see what it actually is.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that, when released in the brain, produces feelings of happiness. Think of it as a chemical messenger that tells your gray cells that everything is okay every time you enter your home and observe your surroundings. Moreover, this is not the first time that dopamine has been associated with things: for example, there is the concept of a dopaminergic wardrobe and dopaminergic fashion.

Of course, dopamine does more than just make us feel good. It is very important for the whole body: this neurotransmitter notably regulates blood pressure, relaxes the smooth muscles of the stomach and intestines and increases blood flow in the kidneys. So we can say that dopamine inside is not a whim, but an important part of self-care. How to create it? You need to use the rules of psychology in design and start with the most important step.

It’s harder than it seems: it’s not always easy to understand which desires are truly ours and which ones we feel because “that’s how it should be.” For example, we are supposed to go to the sea in summer (and preferably to Bali), and we pack our bags, even though we would prefer to spend a free week in an old-fashioned sanatorium, to cure our back pain. We are told that we should love expensive, high-quality and “eternal” things – and now you are saving up for a sheepskin coat and rejoicing when you have collected the required amount, although you would rather change three jackets into polyester with shiny padding. times during the winter.

Dopamine clothing and decor imply one main rule: you need to abandon all rules and think about what makes you happy. Interior designers are unlikely to consider your children’s room stylish with an old sofa, a blanket knitted by your grandmother and posters of your favorite actors, but many wonderful memories are probably associated with it, and it is therefore much “rich in dopamine”. » than the most elegant living room.

You don’t have to go through a complicated survey – instead, do a simple exercise: grab a pen and paper, sit down, look around and write down what you like to look at. Analyze why. Is it the texture and color of the objects, or are the personal items and memories associated with them pleasant? Record all your observations – this will be useful to you in the future.

We have good news: the color palette for a happy interior is also outside the rules, and you can forget about the obligation to choose only neutral shades for decoration. “Like kitsch, dopamine decorating involves the use of bold patterns, bright colors and contrasts – adding them to the interior can liven up a space,” says Devika Khosla, creative director at design firm The Works Interiors.

But do his words mean that we should use bright colors? Of course not, you have to choose the ones that make you happy. They should be combined wisely: for example, artist, designer and blogger Dabito, who wrote the bestseller “Old, Brand New: Colorful Homes for the Most Comfort Living”, advises choosing three main ones: a shade neutral, soft and bright. color and a bright color. Interior designer Brooke Kopp Barton suggests another way to put together a palette: take two contrasting colors and tone them down with a big dose of white.

It is convenient to create dopamine decor “from scratch” during a renovation, but this method is not accessible to most of us. Fortunately, this is not a problem: you can create the right atmosphere with the help of small things: flower pots, cozy blankets, decorative pillows, a new coffee table, photo frames, rugs, figurines, crockery, lamps and even books. Dopamine decor is basically about filling a space with textures, patterns, colors and everything that brings you joy, but if you remember the chosen color palette, you will create an aesthetic and competent design, not chaotic .

The absence of clutter and excessive workload is very important for a dopamine interior, so every time you buy something, ask yourself: “Will this item make me happy for many years?” Imagine that a new blanket or vase is already in your house: does this evoke a feeling of joy? As psychologists say, “stay with it” – do not buy right away, but wait a few days and see if the passionate desire to own the thing turns into complete indifference to it.

Nostalgia is an important component of the dopaminergic setting. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t throw away a wardrobe as old as you are, or that you need to hang a picture on the wall where you are next to Santa Claus in a snowflake costume. You can do this – for example, if, looking at the closet, you remember how you hid there, playing with your father, and feel how you are overwhelmed with happiness, or if you really love the Christmas tree photo you were in 30 years ago. Don’t forget either that it is not objects that can arouse nostalgia, but colors: why not, for example, install a yellow armchair in your home, which recalls the sofa in the room where you spent your moon honey ?

Dopamine decoration and clothing began to gain popularity after the pandemic – during self-isolation, people began to think more often about what they choose for themselves and what they simply want to demonstrate to others. “A lot of people have started to separate their tastes from trends and styles,” says interior designer Grace Baena. “Instead of opting for the understated, minimalist aesthetic we’ve seen so often in recent years, or for ‘dignified’ luxury spaces, people have started to embrace their individuality by collecting and mixing objects that suit them. please. ” Such eclecticism usually looks bright and unique – this is one of the features of dopamine decor.

Comfortable, cozy furniture doesn’t have to be new – sometimes you just need to tidy up an old piece of furniture by updating the upholstery or painting the wooden base. In other words, harmony and balance of the interior should be achieved through color combinations – you do not have to use exclusively modern sofas and tables (unless, of course, let them be what pleases you the most).

And finally, don’t be afraid to experiment. Experiment with natural light and layers of electric light from sconces and table lamps, add and subtract decorative items, and remember that space and the freedom to do with it as you want is the source of dopamine and happiness.

Even more interesting materials can be found in our Telegram channel.