Why people are getting a happiness hit from homes

While some increase happiness by exercising and getting enough sleep, others turn to interior designs with bold paints and eye-catching patterns.

It’s a craze known as “dopamine decorating,” with more than 70,000 posts on TikTok, and involves adding bright, quirky items to your home to boost happiness.

Rachel Verney shares decorating inspiration videos of her colorful Surrey home with more than 800,000 followers on social media and saw her popularity soar when she bought a bright orange sofa.

Known as The Shoestring Home, this project aims to make “aesthetics accessible” and help people create colorful spaces on a budget, and its renovation videos are watched by millions of people.

“When I’m working on a project, this is my happy place,” he said. “Sometimes I feel like a fraud because I’m not qualified to do this job.”

There was a “division” on Facebook over its interiors, with some finding the designs too bold.

But even though she doesn’t have a degree in interior design, her ideas have struck a chord with young audiences, and she made content creation her full-time job last year.

“Everything is so bleak and the world is a bit of a scary place right now; homes want to be cheerful,” he said.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in our brain’s reward and pleasure systems. Often referred to as the “feel-good” hormone, it affects mood, motivation, and attention.

Psychologist Dr. Natasha Sharma said vibrant colors produce small dopamine hits, which provide optimism and a sense of reward in uncertain times.

He said dopamine decor gives people a “high sense of well-being” by allowing them to “externalize” their identity and improve their mood.

Wolverhampton’s Dr Sharma added that a home dominated by gray or neutral tones could lead to a “feeling of emotional flatness”.

Nicola Brighton is among those making a living from the trend, creating kitsch prints and neon mirrors in unique shapes that are stocked in stores across the UK and US.

Her Birmingham-based business, Printing Weird, has grown 62% since 2022, and her designs frequently sell out as customers look for something to add nostalgia to their homes.

“When you come home from work and you’ve had a terrible day, you can look at the things that bring you joy and happiness,” Nicola said.

She started her business seven years ago in her mother’s spare bedroom, fueled by her love of colorful decor and her mission to bring affordable products to the market.

“Why not hang this crap on your wall through what you love? It’s an extension of your personality and will bring you joy,” he said.

But while Google searches for dopamine decor have increased by more than 110% in the past year, real estate agents have warned the trend could put potential buyers off.

Lincolnshire-based Paul Fox Estate Agents recommended a neutral color scheme rather than bold hues and added “timeless” hues to help homes sell quickly.

“First impressions are everything, so you can probably attract buyers by having the house painted in popular colors,” the agent said.

Despite the agent’s advice, new homeowners like Jodie Edmonds decided to add personality to their walls.

“I don’t mind when it comes to reselling, people have different tastes and can change the decor,” he said.

For Jodie, a colorful scheme is a way to express herself and make guests feel happier.

“A gray house makes me feel down, a bright house makes me feel motivated and inspired,” she said.

• Rachel Verney recommends incorporating colors you love into your decor, starting with items like pillows and rugs, and not being afraid to mix colors and patterns.

• Simple touches on practical items go a long way – wrap your fridge in vinyl with an exciting pattern, paint your appliances and radiators any color of the rainbow, or add a fun printed shower curtain and quirky bath mat to a boring bathroom.

• Get crafty like adding bows to cushion covers or updating candlesticks to create affordable dupes of your favorite brands.

• Buy second-hand and upcycled items from charity shops and Facebook Marketplace to save money and landfill

• Add plants to shelves, mantels, and dull corners to improve your mood. If you don’t have green fingers, consider botanical prints on wallpaper, rugs or bedding to bring warmth and tranquility to your home.