Dopamine Decorating My Way Through December
If you're in a funk or a biopsy waiting period, you might want to try a little something called dopamine decorating. The latest feel-good at home trend might be just what you need to distract yourself with a project and create a space with healing, happy energy. Now that the Holidays are here, it's the perfect time to top that Christmas tree with a disco ball instead of the same plain star you use every year. And if you cannot physically deck the halls yourself, you can always pull out a laptop and create a mood board to bring to life when you can on your own, or pass along to your favorite people so they can make it happen. Your beige throw pillows might match your hardwood floors and accent your kitchen cabinets, but do they bring you joy?
We often think I need a grown-up space at a certain age. And while I do agree, there is a point when that Justin Timberlake poster taped to your wall isn't the vibe anymore; we don't need to take all the fun out of our decor just because we're no longer in college. Growing up, my Mom would pull the big Holiday box out of storage every November, and we would trim a fresh-cut tree with pastel pink ornaments and bows. It was the Barbie tree of my dreams, and it gave life to our little two-bedroom apartment. Maybe it was that tree, or the way my Mom always found a way to make my messy artwork look chic in our home, but when I move to a new space, I try to think about how I want to feel when I walk into it, and thus far, that has always led to funky wall art, bright colored ceramics, and silly little knick knacks scattered around.
This year, I gave myself a budget, came up with some fun DIY projects, and added a few things to my holiday collection to give it more life. I needed it. My mood needed to be lifted, and I needed a task that didn't feel like a task. After all the doctor's appointments and everyday stressors, we should all get to come back to a space that refills our dopamine levels. So next time you're strolling through the isles of TJMaxx looking for solid neutral shades of traditional decor that Martha Stewert would approve of, ask yourself, does this spark Joy?
