Architectural Digest defined it as “the feel-good interior design trend we need” and “the latest colorful, playful antidote to boring interiors.” Despite being one of the biggest interior design trends of the past year, there is still confusion about what constitutes “dopamine decor.”
“To follow the dopamine decor trend, like the dopamine dressing trend before it, all you have to do is focus on surrounding yourself with furniture, art and objects that make you happy,” explains Better Homes and Gardens. “Brilliantly bold colors and patterns, versatile prints, inviting textures and a nostalgic, can’t-miss vibe: that’s dopamine decor in a nutshell,” says Architectural Digest.
Detroit-based designer Rachel Nelson of Concetti puts it even more simply. “It’s about choosing things that bring you joy,” and she says that while the philosophy has a new name, the idea behind it has always been at the heart of their work and the homes they design. She recently shared some projects with Homestyle readers that illustrate this style and offered tips on how you can achieve the same results at home.
Life in Technicolor
Fenton homeowners Kris and Russ Bradley have lived in their lakefront colonial since 1995. Thirteen years ago, they added an addition with a master suite, man cave and wine cellar. Recently, they decided to renovate and brought Nelson and Concetti on board to help bring more cohesion. “We always wanted our home to be a place where we felt joy and belonging,” Kris explains. “A place that reflected our love of family and gave us a sense of peace, but also a place that evoked playfulness. A place where we could entertain guests and where our friends felt comfortable and welcome. A place that honored our own evolution over time. We wanted our home to be a place where we could soak up the things and memories that make us happy. It should be a place that reflected us, and we want to live our lives in Technicolor.”
While they had collected things they loved and painted the walls in colors that lifted their spirits, they still felt the house lacked a cohesive style, Kris says. Nelson helped them renovate the downstairs and design their spaces to reflect their new outlook. They started with the lower level, which Kris describes as “a hodgepodge of furniture,” including a dresser-turned-multimedia center and a battered coffee table—their first purchases as a married couple. Once the lower level was complete, they moved into the foyer and great room, which houses the living, dining and kitchen areas. Originally driven by a desire to change the stone fireplace they’d never liked, the renovation added a grand piano, more artwork and an updated kitchen without ripping out cabinets or changing the floor plan.
“We wanted Rachel and her team to push us to think about things that would take us out of our comfort zone,” Kris added. “If you had ever told us that blue would be a dominant color in our home, we would never have believed it. We were frightened Painting the walls a deep blue, but in the great room that extends to the foyer and bedroom, blue is a color that ties everything together. It adds dimension and makes everything “pop,” really putting the spotlight on artwork, collectibles, and family photos that are important to us.
Finally, they redid the master bedroom as an anniversary gift for each other. “Everything blended into a matte, muted beige,” Kris says of the before. “Although we often hear the word ‘serene’ when talking about master bedrooms and it’s often associated with colors associated with nature, we find our color-saturated walls peaceful, grounding, and guaranteed to bring sweet dreams,” Kris explains. They were thrilled with the results. “We often turn to each other and say, ‘Doesn’t that just make you happy?'” she explains. “Cheesy, but true.”
Stop thinking “should”
Nelson says the Bradleys were spurred by the empty nest and changing priorities, but everyone can benefit from a home that fits the homeowner. “The house didn’t seem to fit their stage of life,” she explains. “If you’re home all the time, why not design it yourself?” The Bradleys are also great entertainers, she says, and “are known for throwing the best parties at the lake.”
Nelson admired her willingness to push boundaries. “She wasn’t satisfied. If she wasn’t excited, she moved on.” That’s a lesson we can all learn from, she says. Worry less about what others think and figure out what you think and like, she says. Take the time to buy things you love and can live with for a long time. “If you can see yourself in your home, there’s nothing more special or mood-boosting,” she says.
Other projects she’s recently completed have expressed the same idea, but with different results. Concetti recently remodeled a 1950s condo overlooking the Detroit River with soft, feminine blushes and bird motifs. “The client is a veteran and her mental health is important to her,” Nelson explains. “She wanted her space to feel gentle, serene and safe.”
Another client with a century-old home wanted a meditation space with lots of plants and chose to tie the home’s rooms together using natural blues, greens and rusts. “As a spiritual sanctuary, we made a clean, serene environment a top priority,” she explained. “A watercolor accent wall features calming blues and greens, complemented by natural woven textures. Every aspect of the home reflects our client’s values and passions, from the carefully curated color palette to the thoughtful integration of natural elements. It’s more than just a renovation, it’s a testament to investing in your home and, by extension, in yourself.”
Unlike more rigid design styles, dopamine decor is flexible and self-directed, Nelson says. Wondering where to start your own transformation? Nelson recommends a visit to a home goods store. “Pick up things you’re drawn to and fill your cart,” she advises. “Even if you don’t buy them, you’ll start to see a pattern.”
“You can find your own version of dopamine decor, whether it’s through color, pattern, or whimsical things,” Nelson explains. If you need encouragement, designers can be great supporters, she adds. “It takes a little bit of courage. The beauty of the dopamine decor trend is that it allows people to design for themselves and worry less about the ‘shoulds,'” she adds. “If you like that weird elephant, buy it. If it makes you smile every time you see it, then that’s dopamine decor.”
