Interior Designers Share 6 Simple Ways to Make a Room Feel Calmer

We chase more antidotes to how we feel than ever before, with conversations around how to optimize our mental and physical health—not forgetting niche offshoots like longevity science, biohacking and neuroarchitecture—entering the mainstream.

It should then come as no surprise that “dopamine decor” has seen a surge in interest. The interior design philosophy sees the aesthetic of a room, including its colors, textures and objects, as being imperative to the mood of its residents.

After all, dopamine is the neurotransmitter in the brain associated with the positive chemical responses pleasure and reward. Interestingly, unlike other trends that center on uniformity and copied aesthetic cues, pursuing dopamine decor is highly individual because what sparks joy for people largely differs based on their personality and experiences.

The Science Behind Dopamine Decor

Two studies help support the science-backed name of the trend.

Research from 2011 showed that viewing beautiful art activates one of the brain’s key reward centers tied to dopamine release, the medial orbitofrontal cortex. Later, a 2019 large-scale study provided quantitative evidence to show that people are happier in “beautiful” surroundings.

Shaping a Room To Feel Calm and Happy

Tracee Murphy, a seasoned interior designer and founder of Trade Mark Interiors, spoke with Newsweek about the decor philosophy and how to put it into practice. She calls design “deeply psychological,” and something that influences how we feel.

The designer reiterated that dopamine decor centers around individual tastes, simply because what sparks dopamine release in one person may not for another. For this reason, it does not mean the back of the “millennial greige” aesthetic, a design trend which favors minimalist interiors and neutral tones, despite this often being discussed on social media.

However, when it comes to optimizing a space for calm and ease, there are a few design notes that Murphy wants budding home stylists to know, as they can work for a broader spectrum of people.

“You don’t need a major renovation to change how a room makes you feel,” she said. “I always encourage people to start with one question: ‘How do I want to feel when I walk into this room?’ Maybe it’s energized, peaceful, inspired or simply happy to be home.

“Once you identify that feeling, you can begin making small, intentional changes.”

She went on to say that, from a psychological perspective, feeling safe in our environment is fundamental to our well-being.

“Our homes should give us a place to decompress from the outside world, and thoughtful design can help support that,” she said. “I look at a room through several lenses, including color, lighting, spatial flow and connection to nature.

“Soft, layered lighting can create warmth, natural materials add comfort, and thoughtful furniture placement can make a room feel more welcoming. One simple tip is to notice how you feel when you walk into the room. Is the lighting harsh? Can you move through it comfortably?”

Lisa Quinn, a California-based interior designer and home stager, agrees with Murphy’s pointers. She told Newsweek that lighting is a great place to start when it comes to calming a home.

“Warm, layered lighting is much more soothing than relying on a single, harsh overhead light,” she said. “Pools of light read as cozy and comfortable. Utilize light from different sources at different heights, like up lights, floor lamps, table lamps and wall sconces. Make sure every light has a dimmer.

“This is also a good time to use calmer base colors and bring in your more colorful items through textiles and accent pieces.

“Too much bright color can feel chaotic to some. And don’t forget about your other senses,” she added. “It’s not just what you see, it’s how you feel overall. Soft music and delicately scented oils provide calm to all your senses.”

The designer pointed out that clutter can double up as “visual pollution,” immediately stripping a home of its sense of tranquility.

“Just removing excess items from your most visible horizontal surfaces changes everything,” she said.

Mariette Barsoum, co-founder and principal designer of Massachusetts-based Divine Design Center, added her input too. The designer recalled a recent project in Boston and how the space was optimized to create a greater sense of ease.

“Lighting makes a considerable difference,” Barsoum told Newsweek. “Use several gentle sources of light, a reading lamp, a table lamp or illuminated shelving, so you can adjust the atmosphere instead of relying entirely on overhead lighting.

“And when there are many objects on display, give the eye somewhere to rest,” she added. “A consistent background, some clear surfaces and space between groupings allow individual pieces to stand out. That way, a room can hold plenty of personality and still feel calm.”

Despite dopamine decor often being associated with bold prints and playful patterns, at its core it is about how homes make people feel and not just about how they can look joyful on the surface.

What is aesthetically pleasing to some may not spark joy in others. One person’s trinkets, postcards and photographs may not match up to how another’s minimalist mantel makes them feel.

But what the designers do agree on are a few core principles that can help sway any space, no matter its personal touches, from chaotic to calm.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Marc Vargas and Oliver Pritchard.