This Home Decorating Theory Can Actually Make You Happier

[@tarapallaychannel]

Hi Friends! Anyone else feeling like they could use a little cheer in their decor to beat the winter blahs?

[@MlleFunambuline]

I was really depressed two years ago, and about to move, when I heard about dopamine decor. I had a very limited budget when moving, but during the last two years, every new piece I bought or thrifted or upcycled has been a new dopamine boost, and it's begining to look very cohesive. I love my place like I never loved any place where I lived before!

[@tarapallaychannel]

I love this so much!!! It just goes to show that our living environments have such a big impact on our emotions and mental health. I’m so glad you are loving your place ❤️ Thank you for sharing this 😊

[@jimkallerholm6692]

I live in a small village just north of the polar circle where we do not get any sunlight for a month in winter. Dopamine decor is not just a good idea, it might just be essential for ones mental health.

[@tarapallaychannel]

Absolutely! Seasonal affective disorder is definitely an issue where I live - I can only imagine the impact it must have on your village. Be well and thanks for watching 😊

[@GK-up6xz]

Completely agree that this is a positive approach to design. It offers an antidote to the quietly stressful beige people...

[@tarapallaychannel]

“Quietly stressful beige people” is so accurate and hilarious 😂 Thanks for watching! 😊

[@GK-up6xz]

@@tarapallaychannel Thanks for the informative and interesting content 🙏🙏🙏

[@tarapallaychannel]

That’s so kind! Thank you 😊

[@UMVELINQANGI]

Color is overwhelming and stressful to some people, and beige is great if you love it. But to each her own. Shalom.

[@tarapallaychannel]

Absolutely! Some people prefer neutrals and that’s great if that works for them. There are lots of very well designed neutral interiors out there. 😊

[@joyh3086]

You packed an incredible amount of seriously useful information into this video. I think it is the best home interior video I have ever seen on KZbin!

[@tarapallaychannel]

That is so kind! I really appreciate it. Thank you so much 😊

[@PamelaW-t8y]

I'm glad to have found this video. It's instinctively what I'm slowly but surely trying to do. My house is rather small, long and narrow. I've been here for 10 years. My husband was always about neutral and playing it safe, and that was ok with me at the time. He passed on 3 years ago. I started by rearranging the living room furniture because I could no longer stand seeing 'his' chair in the same place. Next, I painted. I was craving color and thought it might help me feel better (I was pretty depressed). I put an accent wall in the LR and down the hall in a saturated blueish teal because I love the color. The other walls were painted an off white with a hint of yellow. My furniture is in good shape, and at my age I don't have the budget nor desire to buy new stuff. I bought a number of machine washable patterned furniture throws with teal, dark orange and a bit of yellow (I have a dog and 3 cats who all get on the furniture.) The new area rug I bought just arrived today and I'm loving it. It's a cream-colored background with a subtle pattern in greenish blue, reddish orange and a bit of yellow. I've also added a few new plants. I'm here in Wisconsin, and winters can be pretty dreary. The sunlight that does come through my south-facing window bounces off and brightens the colors and my day. I'm still grieving, but the more colorful room has brightened my mood. A dopamine hit for sure. (Side note: This new look is definitely leaning toward 'Boho', without getting too themed. Upon reflection, it suits me, and who I am. I'm in my early 70's and am an old 'hippie'. More importantly, I'm actually Bohemian, my ancestors having come from a village south of Prague and having emigrated in the late 1800's. I actually have one of my great, great, great aunt's kitchen chairs.)

[@tarapallaychannel]

Thank you so much for this comment! I’m so very sorry for your loss. I’m glad you are finding ways to create a space for yourself that can bring you comfort. I’m in Canada where winters are also pretty harsh, so I know how much it can help to have a home that brings a little joy. Thank you so much for watching! 😊

[@tamararoberts4938]

Well, thank you for letting me know my style of decor with interior design. You are one of my favorite instructors!

[@tarapallaychannel]

That’s so kind! Thank you for watching 😊

[@maunarose]

You are HILARIUOS in this upload! I’m enjoying your content so much, and your sense of humor. Hello to Suarez

[@tarapallaychannel]

Aw you’re so sweet! Thank you. Suarez says hi 😊

[@GardenerPhyl]

As a fellow Albertan, I appreciate the hit of dopamine decor. Thanks kindly! PS should you ever want to have a few houseplants start with a zz plant and a sansevieria, they require minimal light and a thorough watering every 2-4 weeks. 🌱

[@tarapallaychannel]

Yes, we Albertans need some dopamine for many reasons right now 🤦‍♀️ Thanks for the plant tip! 😊

[@dyanalayng5507]

I see a few combinations in your samples that give me that effect: the vintage dog art collection; the checkered strips along the edge of the front door. But I did save photos interior or two from magazines: a glam turquoise, pink, coral with gold and lots of white. Richer than beach. A bluey green wallpaper with strong pink, bronze is also in my one day file. Thanks for a great video, as always! Inspiring!

[@tarapallaychannel]

Oh your magazine inspos sound amazing! Thanks so much for being here and your thoughtful comments! 😊

[@alexlaessle1]

Extremely positive and reaffirming video. In my bedroom, I surround myself with pretty stuff. As I age, my only criteria for choosing or making decorative and practical pieces is: do I like it? Trying to fit my design choices into a specific style just doesn't work anymore. Pretty makes me happy!

[@tarapallaychannel]

Love that! So glad you are creating a space for yourself that brings you happiness 😊

[@evanor1296]

I added a light green wallpaper in my dining room just because of the happy feelings i got from it. On the yellow side of green so it looks like a fresh and crispy sallad :) My dining room is next to the bedroom so its the first room i see in the morning

[@tarapallaychannel]

Oh I love that!!! 😊

[@suedinym1]

I just moved to a fixer upper last August. It has lots of windows, so I ordered a mixed lot of Indian Kantha quilts. You get what you get and because it's a random selection you probably aren't going to like one or two out of ten. They're generally quite vivid with unexpected color combinations. I got 15, cut most them in half and used café hooks to turn them into curtains and Roman shades. I picked out area rugs, etc, to match. I even wound up pairing the ugly 'goldenrod' quilt with purple and it totally worked! Now I'm in the process painting the walls to tie in with the rugs and curtains. (As an extra challenge, I decided all the paint has to be 'miss-tints' - stuff people returned or rejected, so the hardware stores blend in some more pigment and sell it cheap.) I kind of envisioned the overall design concept as being like a really large, 3d patchwork quilt.

[@tarapallaychannel]

@@suedinym1 That sounds incredible! I can only imagine the extra challenge you’ve created for yourself with the mistints. I don’t think I’d have the patience or courage 😉😊

[@suedinym1]

@@tarapallaychannel I thought that would be more difficult too - but I live almost directly across the street from both Home Depot and Lowes. I picked out the colors I wanted - then went over every day after work. If one of my colors was there, I bought it! (10 USD for a gallon of 'Oops' paint vs $40-50...) I did keep in mind that some of it was cabinet paint and some ceiling paint... But my new pal at the paint desk helped me work out if it would be OK for the room I planned to paint. Most of the bathroom is cabinets... And I'm planning to paint the bedroom walls and ceiling all the same color... So that worked out just fine! It also helps if you're fine with medium to dark hues. I did manage to get a light 'bone' but for the most part there is very little resembling beige!

[@tarapallaychannel]

@@suedinym1 Wow! That’s dedication 😊

[@jdsfrisco]

What each of these playful spaces has in common is an underlying base of classic form and structure. It's not just about random goofiness.

[@tarapallaychannel]

Yes! I think it’s unfortunate that “Dopamine Decor” has just been passed off by some as a passing fad that uses bright colours and “tacky” accessories. There’s actually real value in this theory if approached with the right mindset.

[@Tantejuju65]

Absolutely totally agree... Surround yourself with the colors, patterns...that make you sigh with comfort

[@tarapallaychannel]

Yes!!! 😊

[@angelaehr4963]

Oooo...I love this video! Had no idea I was ahead of a trend...LOL! I've been decorating the 'dopamine way' for ages; I'm an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) and am now tuned into how people/places/objects make me feel. I learned the hard way, though. I've purchased no end of objects (big and small) that didn't do much for me in the store and even less for me in my home. Now, no matter how much I love a particular painting or sofa or even a tea cup (because it may 'fit' the space), if it doesn't melt my butter emotionally, it stays behind. Hubs has learned my tells over the years; if I touch something (my way to read the energy) and I grin, it's going home. Unfortunately, I spent a king's ransom learning a very valuable lesson. Home should make you happy and what better way than to decorate it in a way that brings a smile to your face and peace to your mind and heart. Thank you, Tara...again. ❤❤

[@tarapallaychannel]

Aw thank you Angela! I love that this is how you make your design choices. I could learn from this. I think I get a little too in-my-head sometimes and start over analyzing instead of listening to my heart. So glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for being here 😊

[@joannestimson9641]

I love the concept, and what makes you happy is so individual. A wall of small eclectic décor would stress me out, but I love plants.

[@tarapallaychannel]

Right?! It would be so dull if we were all drawn to the same things. Thanks for watching 😊

[@howaboutnooo00]

I loved all the examples! Man I just love color in interior design

[@tarapallaychannel]

Me too! Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@lindamcgillin2263]

I enjoyed this video sooooo much! Life goals! ⭐️💓💖🌟✨🌈🌺🌹🌷💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝

[@tarapallaychannel]

@@lindamcgillin2263 Thank you so much much!!! 😊

[@spbausch]

I have a teal velvet couch, a purple armchair, and lots of colors and textures in the living room. I am a quiet person but I don't need to live with beige.

[@tarapallaychannel]

I love this!!! What a great philosophy to have 😊

[@zellalaing5439]

One look I really like is british victorian homes where everything is kept era appropriate (i.e. lighting fireplace etc) but its all painted in a clearly contemporary way, like a neon pink firplace.

[@tarapallaychannel]

Yes! I love to see people “break the rules” and have some fun in homes that can otherwise be a little stuffy. 😊

[@bosvigos9165]

I cannot believe people are joyful and happy in a griege house. Colour is so incredibly important to our sense of wellbeing.

[@tarapallaychannel]

To each their own, but I agree! I need colour in my home. 😊

[@lolajrgensen846]

Love your take on presenting interior design, thanks for sharing. we are making a complete renovation I our 60íes functionalism Danish arkitekt home, would be fun with some inputs, but not sure how to go about it, in terms as pictures? Lets just say the house has many unfinished surfaces :OX. So I think I will just watch your inputs for other people. Looking forward to it.

[@tarapallaychannel]

Oh wow - renovating a 60’s Danish home sounds absolutely incredible!!! Hoping to get that viewer question video out soon. But also planning to do more of them in the future 😊

[@bEverCurious]

Sending you some summer warmth from down under!

[@tarapallaychannel]

Oh we definitely need it up here! Thank you 😊

[@shlf2615]

I'm not allowed to paint the walls, and I can't keep a plant alive (even the so-called easy ones) so instead I use large tapestries and fake plants. I read an article that claimed even fake plants bring the idea of nature into your home and gives the same positive energy. I also use Christmas lights and I have a quirky Disney kitchen and bathroom. I LOVE my apartment, no matter what others may say.

[@tarapallaychannel]

@@shlf2615 If you love it then that’s what matters! And Christmas lights feel so cozy - why do we have to limit them to one time of year? 😊

[@lindamcgillin2263]

Yes yes yes! I feel I have a dopamine deficiency. I long to have a house where I can decorate bright and feminine .. without my husband’s input. I’m working on a big tv series and I hope to be able to buy my own home!! And do it my way

[@tarapallaychannel]

Amazing! I hope it happens for you 😊

[@lindamcgillin2263]

@ yes!! Thank you!! 💞💞💞💞💞💞🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@gretchen_needs_a_dog]

This just gave me the will to hang a Halloween pairing my husband fell in love with years ago - it really doesn’t have to match, does it? 😂

[@tarapallaychannel]

No it doesn’t! Go for it! 😊

[@millieolson]

Oh boy, you should see the paint job i did in my bedroom before xmas-ultra dopamine! Bright red walls and over that i did stretched rounded edged "bricks" in a yellow color. Was suprised that it seems so homey now yet chic. I shocked myself!!

[@tarapallaychannel]

Oh I’d love to see it! Sounds very cool 😊

[@evanor1296]

Oh that sounds really cool. Like the idea of doing just want you want. Thats dopamine :) I did it in my dining room and now i renovating my kitchen, all in my style and my ideas. Feels already Homey even if it takes months before it finished

[@CarrieLovesLife.]

I highly recommend checking out the work of Ingrid Fetell Lee, and her book JOYFUL.

[@tarapallaychannel]

@@CarrieLovesLife. I actually reference her in my video on the “Secret Room Theory.” I haven’t read her book, but I should! 😊

[@doubleleterlady]

About the plants: fake plants, photos of plants, and green fabric is just as effective at boosting our mood as live plants

[@tarapallaychannel]

Really?! Well that’s interesting… Good to know! 😊

[@MarySpain1958]

Never heard of this. Knew what Dopimine meant but Dopimine Decor? Looks like Maximiumist to me so WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

[@tarapallaychannel]

I suppose for a person who finds joy in maximalism it could be a form of dopamine decor, but it’s not so much a defined aesthetic. It’s decorating in a way that sparks happiness for you, and what brings someone happiness is different for everyone 😊

[@traceyg7925]

I think it would be quirky to feature a design style for some other neurotransmitters…. Serotonin and Norepinephrine… is melatonin a neurotransmitter or a hormone? 🤓 hee hee

[@tarapallaychannel]

Oh gosh - sounds interesting but I don’t know if I have the scientific comprehension to know how to go about it! Lol 😊

[@traceyg7925]

Ahhhh…. “Hormones: are transmitted through blood. Neurotransmitters: are transmitted across the synaptic cleft.” 🧠🤓

[@tarapallaychannel]

Oh yep - over my head now 😂😊

[@vikkienos6807]

💟

[@peztopher7297]

Isn't this the same as "joy" decor that started at the end of the pandemic?

[@tarapallaychannel]

@@peztopher7297 Oh I don’t really recall that? Maybe I wasn’t paying enough attention to what was happening in design. It would certainly have made sense at that time though. So probably a very similar concept 😊

[@peztopher7297]

@@tarapallaychannel I'm not exactly sure that was what it was called--I tried to look it up. It wasn't quite maximalism, not busy. But about color, a reaction to all the white, gray, and beige. But some people are still doing the beige, so maybe these cycles have different phases. Like the time it takes for high fashion to become street fashion.

[@tarapallaychannel]

@peztopher7297 Exactly! Trends will have early adapters and late adapters. So they can overlap and hang around for a while. 😊

[@bananarama480]

Hey KZbin! It's not okay to hide this from me for one whole day!!!

[@tarapallaychannel]

How DARE they! Glad you found it today 😊

[@bananarama480]

I am, too! 😊 I don't wanna miss any upload on here. Enjoyed this one as well!

[@tarapallaychannel]

You’re so sweet! 😊

[@OrganisedPauper]

It’s definitely not one for me. They all give me a panic attack. No idea why, but it’s a no from me.

[@tarapallaychannel]

So interesting how we can all have such different reactions! 😊

[@OrganisedPauper]

@tarapallaychannel Yes. I was surprised. It's fascinating. That old saying rings true. One man's meat is another man's poison.

[@gougeawayfl]

i can help you with plants! i used to think i couldn’t keep them alive but i started with one i kept alive for a while & grew my collection from there. now i love helping people with this! my first plant (snake plant) is 7 or 8 years old now 🪴💕

[@tarapallaychannel]

Impressive! I’m keeping this in mind if I decide to attempt it…. 😉😊