Inside the décor trend that’s boosting mood, one room at a time

Dopamine décor is all about evoking emotion through colour and texture, whether it be a soft sage green to quiet the mind, a cobalt blue to mentally hark back to a Mediterranean summer, or a splash of butter yellow in the kitchen that lifts your mood the way sunlight does in spring. This trend sees a desire to step away from neutral interiors and curate spaces that emotionally uplift your mood.

“Dopamine décor is all about creating interiors that spark instant joy. Instead of following strict design rules, it embraces vibrant colour, bold pattern, and playful detail to uplift the mood of a space,” says Renee Richmond, Founder & Creative Director of Sage Interior Design Studio. “At its heart, it’s about designing for emotional connection, choosing elements that make you smile, remind you of happy memories, or simply bring a sense of energy and positivity into your everyday environment.”

Today’s dopamine décor leans towards curated choices: a tomato-red accent chair, a hand-painted cerulean splashback, or candy-pink ceramic lamps for a touch of play in a neutral setting. As Richmond puts it, “It’s less about trends and more about creating a home that feels deeply personal and emotionally fulfilling.”

“After the last few years, many people are craving homes that feel optimistic and uplifting. Homeowners are moving away from purely minimal or restrained styles and leaning into design that reflects joy, fun, and individuality,” says Richmond. “Dopamine décor resonates because it gives people permission to be expressive and surround themselves with things that make them genuinely happy, whether that’s a favourite colour, a piece of art, or a playful furniture silhouette.”

Dopamine décor is also rooted in neuroscience research, showing that certain visual stimuli activate the brain’s reward centre, literally triggering happiness through environmental design. A 2023 study found that certain lighting and visual patterns can directly stimulate the brain’s pleasure circuits, helping explain why colourful or dynamic environments, like dopamine décor, can make people feel happier and more engaged. In simpler terms, choosing items that are bold, bright, and spark some kind of emotional joy can be considered dopamine décor.

While most home decorating trends require a little bit of rearranging – and often a whole lot of impulsivity – dopamine décor thrives on personal space, where smaller injections of colour can be just as impactful. “Swapping out cushions, art, or lighting with brighter tones and playful forms can instantly shift the mood of a room,” says Richmond. “A feature chair in a bold fabric, coloured glassware on open shelves, or even painting a front door in a cheerful hue can deliver that joyful lift. These changes don’t require a full renovation, but they still allow homeowners to experiment with personality and vibrancy in a way that feels achievable and fun.”

For those looking to completely rearrange their interiors, Richmond suggests starting with the purpose and flow of the space: “Once we have a strong functional foundation, we layer in those joyful design moments. For example, we might introduce a statement wallpaper in a powder room, a bold rug in a neutral living space, or a pop of unexpected colour in joinery or furniture. The key is to curate carefully so that playful elements feel uplifting rather than overwhelming.” She also recommends balancing vibrant pieces with calming tones, natural textures, and thoughtful lighting, ensuring that the “space remains harmonious and liveable while still carrying that spark of personality.”