One of the hottest lifestyle trends informing home interiors is Dopamine Décor, a feelgood blend of bright spaces, bold and creative colour and a strong personal touch. Decluttering is not the goal, here, but cosiness is key; happiness and optimism the target vibe. Curves are more in keeping with the trend ethos than hard, straight lines, whilst interesting textures can be used to build the nest and please the eye.
Some might say that Dopamine Décor is a form of colour therapy, where the conscious and creative use of colour is used to generate specific moods and atmospheres in a harmonious way. This has a fascinating philosophical underpinning in the Theory of Colours written by German poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. His book was partly inspired by Goethe’s love of the Pre-Raphaelites and artists such as J.M.W. Turner, Hilma af Klint and Wassily Kandinsky, who all make amazing use of light and colour in their works.
Decoding Colour Wheels
Goethe created his own colour wheel and suggested that individual colours had certain aesthetic features, whilst emphasising the importance of magenta to complete the circle. His ‘allegorical, symbolic, mystic use of colour’ established a sort of colour psychology which helps inform the present manifestation of Dopamine Decor. We may not agree with all his interpretations – blue, for example, is described as ‘common’ and violet as ‘unnecessary!’, but the principle of different colours have definite characteristics and invoking particular moods still stands.
Scientifically speaking, green and blue are thought to be the most effective colours when it comes to boosting serum dopamine. This makes perfect sense if you consider that green is all around us on the earth in nature, whilst blue is the colour of a sunny-day sky and the most inviting waters for swimming.
Goethe says of green: The eye experiences a distinctly grateful impression from this colour. The beholder has neither the wish nor the power to imagine a state beyond it. Hence for rooms to live in constantly, the green colour is most generally selected.
As well as being the colour of love, pink is renowned for being the hue of happiness, with passion ruling at the deeper end of its spectrum and spiritual bliss being evoked as it softens into delicate pastel tints. If it’s a high-energy, optimistic vibe you’re looking for, hot pink will work wonders, whilst softer pinks will help you achieve a dreamier and more reflective atmosphere.
More positive energy can be brought into the home with the introduction of yellow, the sunniest of colours – the ‘good’ to Goethe – which is especially welcome during the rainy days of autumn and long nights of winter. As well as promoting happiness and optimism, yellow is also though to bring confidence. Yellow is the perfect choice of mood-enhancing colour that you can easily bring to your home interior with hard or soft furnishings, interesting textiles and plants of this colour.
Dopamine Lifestyle
With rainbow bright colour, fluid forms and cosy textures being the key to Dopamine Décor, thoughtful furniture choices can go a long way to helping you achieve the desired effect. With its super sustainable construction materials the Nassau collection from LifestyleGarden will bring joy and comfort to your home and garden.
This beautiful collection will bring light and colour to grey urban surroundings, with an array of bistro sets, coffee sets, and small 4-seat dining sets which evoke Scandi-chic in vibrant on-trend colourways set against rich wooden accents. All LifestyleGarden®’s furniture is suitable for use inside and out, with outstanding UV protection on all coloured components, which won’t fade over time, even if it resides on a sun-soaked balcony year-round.
Nassau is available in not just one choice of recycled plastic, but two. Take your pick from DuraOcean® chairs and tables in Mint and Dark Green, that repurpose marine waste, such as fishing nets and ropes; or Social Plastic® chairs and tables in Peony Pink, Honey Yellow, Sage Green and Ecru White, which utilise recycled waste collected by locals in vulnerable coastal communities, helping to prevent plastic pollution, whilst empowering and improving the lives of workers there.
Choose honey yellow for pure, Goethean beauty: “In its highest purity it always carries with it the nature of brightness, and has a serene, gay, softly exciting character.”
Featured images from top: Gill Kirk. Twists Glass Studio, Sally Moore Glass & Metal, Pixalum, RD Glass, Moleten Wonky, Leona Stewart, Aesthetic Stem, Dreya Glass Studio, Flontiere, Hazel Williams Lasercut Designs, Jill Stewart and JMS Ceramics, all available to trade via the British Craft Directory. Below: Nassau outdoor furniture collection from LifestyleGarden.
