Question: How do I make my home look less generic?
Answer: Dopamine Decor is a great way to lean into maximalist decorating styles, that give your home unique personality and an eclectic edge! Plus, it’ll bring you joy, so it’s a win-win!
Decorating trends change every year
What’s “in” when it comes to decorating your home changes ALL the time! Every year comes with colors and themes that come into the forefront as the ideal for the spaces you spend your time in - I mean, we’ve all seen the tides change on millennial grey, right?? And when minimalism was hugely “in”, we asked ourselves whether things sparked joy… and tried (at least a little bit) to keep clutter off our countertops.
And it’s super tempting to follow the latest fad, and keep your spaces “trendy” whether you’re in a home you own, or you’re renting somewhere. Fashionable furniture, the newest paint colors - with the pace that what’s trending changes, it would be easy to finish one room, and just… move onto the next one, constantly. One, big redecorating loop, just to keep up with what doodads Target thinks you should have decorating your shelves. It’s the same vibe as fashion - always moving, whether it repeats itself or not. I mean, bell bottoms are back, you know?
But no matter what we do, if we’re following those fads, it’s going to make your house feel like your neighbor’s house, and their neighbor’s house, and that neighbor’s second-cousin’s house, because when everyone is doing it? Then it’s just generic again. And that’s part of why it’s such a hamster wheel! We’re trying to be unique… like everyone else.
One thing is always consistent though - you!
But in these ever-changing tides of what is and isn’t fashionable in your home, there’s one constant. YOU. Now, I don’t mean that in the “what you like this year is what you’ll like next year is what you’ll like twelve years from now because we never change as people.” That would be boring - never changing isn’t the win it sounds like it could be in theory.
What I mean, is that when you’re choosing the things that will go in your home, YOU are the constant. You’re the one who is going to experience those things. You’re going to walk through your front door, and look at the art on the walls. You’re going to use the things in your house, because you’re the one who lives in it.
And what that means, is you’re the only one whose opinion matters. Not whoever is curating collections for your favorite shop, not your mother-in-law - YOU.
Dopamine Decor is all about your personal joy
That’s what Dopamine Decor comes down to - your personal joy, and living the life you live in your spaces to the absolute fullest! If you want to paint flowers all over your walls, do it. If you want to decorate a space themed after your favorite video game, do it. Whether that means finding things you love, or making things you love.
On the complete other end of the spectrum though, it could mean keeping things super minimal, and avoiding visual overwhelm in your spaces. Dopamine Decor isn’t about a specific style - it’s about where that style comes from for you, and what it means for your brain (and therefore your mood). A lot of the time when people talk about Dopamine Decor, they mean SPECIFICALLY the “bright, over-the-top” decorating that you see when you search it on Pinterest. And that’s definitely one thing it can mean! When it’s used in that way, it’s usually because that style of decorating has been out for so long, that leaning into maximalist, vibrant decor, that could even be seen as overwhelming, is going against the grain.
But Dopamine Decor isn’t that simple - because it’s not about a specific set of colors, or a specific style of items. It’s about YOU, which is how decorating in general should be!
What brings you joy will be unique!
So if you’re trying to make your home feel less generic, and you want to use Dopamine Decor to do it, you really can’t go wrong. What you love, and the combinations of things that you love, will naturally make your spaces feel unique, because YOU are unique. Even if you tend toward a specific style that’s already popular, your personal take on it will be unique to you.
You might have to get a little creative with this if you’re renting, because a lick of paint can change a room in an afternoon - but that may not be on the table for you, and that’s okay. But there are always options, and ways that you can work with a room or a home overall, to bring in design elements that truly bring you joy.
Want less grey, and more joy? Jessica Strobel Art is PERFECT for Dopamine Decor!
And if you want less grey, and more joy, and vibrant flowers or quirky art pieces fit the bill, checking out the series’ I have available here at Jessica Strobel Art is a great place to start, if you don’t mind me tooting my own horn. The collections I’ve put together span a bunch of tones - and that’s on purpose! Like I said, Dopamine Decor isn’t JUST about vibrance. It’s about how it makes YOU feel. So there are pieces in some of my floral collections that are chill, and calm, and contemplative. And then it gets more chaotic and fun from there!
So whether you’re looking for something vibrant and quirky that gives your space an eclectic edge, or you’re hoping to uplift your space with something vibrant and welcoming, there are fine art prints in my shop for you. Embrace your own uniqueness, with Dopamine Decor!!