The Dopamine Effect

Welcome to the era of dopamine decorating — a fearless, joyful approach to interior design that throws the rulebook out the window in favour of self-expression, bold choices, and good vibes. If your home is your sanctuary (and it absolutely should be), why not fill it with things that spark happiness, lift your mood, and stimulate your senses?

At its core, dopamine decorating is all about designing for you. It’s a love letter to your personality, your mood, and your energy — no rules, just instinct and delight. Think vivid colours, dynamic patterns, and quirky shapes. But it’s not all high-octane neons and maximalism — dopamine decorating can be calming too. With the right colour palette, you can create a space that soothes your soul just as easily as it energises your spirit.

Dopamine is the “feel-good” chemical in your brain — and while we can’t bottle it, we can design for it. In interior design, dopamine decorating means surrounding yourself with colours, textures, and objects that trigger joy. It’s not about chasing trends or fitting into a particular aesthetic. It’s about what feels right for you.

Maybe that means painting your kitchen a vibrant citrus yellow, throwing a rainbow of mismatched cushions on the sofa, or finally saying yes to that oversized maximalist wallpaper you’ve been daydreaming about. The magic lies in emotional connection: if it makes you smile, it’s dopamine-approved.

Colour is your most powerful tool in dopamine decorating. It sets the tone, defines the energy, and creates an immediate emotional impact. While bold, vivid colours often get the spotlight, dopamine hits can come from any hue — it’s all about how it makes you feel.

For example, soft pastels like lavender or blush pink can create a tranquil, sensory space that feels like a warm hug. Meanwhile, saturated hues like coral, teal, or electric blue bring the fun and energy, transforming even the most ordinary corners into something extraordinary.

We’ve been lucky enough to partner with our friends over at Yes Colours, who are leading the charge when it comes to dopamine-infused colour palettes. Their selection of paints is nothing short of joyful — from zesty limes to rich earth tones, each colour is created with intention, emotion, and personality.

We’ve been splashing them all over our new Love Frankie Shop, and we’re OBSESSED. Our dining room is now a dopamine dream, finished in Friendly Peach, Passionate Yellow, and Electric Black. It’s a space that makes a statement — and sparks conversation — the second you step inside.

You don’t have to go full technicolour to embrace dopamine design (unless you want to!). Here are a few ways you can start injecting happiness and energy into your home:

1. Curate Your Colour Palette

Start by choosing a few colours that speak to your senses — they can be vivid and punchy, or soft and serene. Think beyond walls: colour can come from furniture, lighting, textiles, or art.

2. Textiles That Talk

Introduce dopamine tones through textiles — like curtains, cushions, or even wallpaper. These are lower-commitment pieces that can completely transform the vibe of a room, especially when you layer patterns and textures together.

3. Lampshades That Pop

Lighting is often overlooked, but it’s one of the easiest and most permanent ways to bring colour and joy into a space. Our handmade lampshade collection at Love Frankie is brimming with bold, brilliant dopamine inspired lampshades — think velvet, fringe, prints and pops of colour that light up your room in every sense of the word.

4. Small Accessories, Big Impact

If you’re just dipping your toe into dopamine waters, start small. Side tables, stools, candle holders, and candles can all serve as vibrant little mood-boosters. You’ll find a treasure trove of these colourful gems in the Love Frankie Totnes store — perfect for mixing, matching, and mood-lifting.

Dopamine decorating isn’t about getting it “right” — it’s about creating a space that feels right to you. It’s an intuitive, emotional, sensory approach to styling your home — and it’s oh-so-liberating. Whether your version of joy is a riot of colour or a quiet palette of peaceful pastels, the goal is the same: to make your home a place of personal expression, sensory delight, and everyday happiness.

So go ahead — be bold, be playful, be YOU. And when in doubt? Add more colour.