Gen Z embraces the rising interior trend dopamine décor, replacing beige with bold colours to boost mood, personality, and self-expression at home
From Beige to Bold: Why Gen Z Is Choosing Colour Over Neutrals
Neutral interior design, dominated by beige, grey, and sandy tones, has lost its appeal among younger generations. Gen Z, in particular, is rediscovering colour as a tool for personal expression, creativity, and emotional well-being. The trend is known as dopamine décor—a visual philosophy that uses vibrant hues to uplift moods and infuse positivity into daily life.
According to Pinterest Predicts 2025, searches related to this style have risen by 280%, signalling a major cultural shift in how we design and inhabit our living spaces.
What Is Dopamine Décor? The Mood-Boosting Trend Explained
Dopamine décor aims to create “bursts of joy” through the use of colour. It’s not just about visual effects; it serves as an emotional strategy to counteract the anxiety, monotony, and emotional neutrality often associated with minimalist interiors.
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As reported by the Associated Press, this aesthetic gained momentum after pandemic lockdowns, when people began reimagining their homes not as neutral refuges but as energising and inspiring spaces.
The Dopamine Room Trend on TikTok: How Gen Z Made Colour Go Viral
On TikTok, the trend gained popularity under the hashtag #dopamineroom, which has garnered millions of views. Creators and interior enthusiasts post makeovers of bland spaces transformed into vibrant, personality-packed rooms where colour takes centre stage.
@homewithnabila If it makes you smile, it belongs in your home!🌈💚 here is my version of dopamine decor ✨ #homedecor #design #colorfulhome #interiordesign #colorfulinteriors #homeinspo #dopaminedecor ♬ original sound - The PrintableConcept
Poppy red, lime green, electric blue, and sunshine yellow are used boldly and freely, marking a stark departure from the Scandinavian-inspired minimalism of the last decade. This aesthetic embodies individuality, energy, and a desire for visual excitement.
Top Interior Designers Championing the Dopamine Décor Aesthetic
For bold colour inspiration, follow these interior designers, artists and stylists on Instagram:
- @indiamahdavi – A French-Iranian designer known as the “queen of colour,” famous for playful and chromatically daring spaces like the Coburg Bar and the Townhouse Hotel in Miami.
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- @yinka_ilori – A British-Nigerian artist and designer celebrated for her hyper-coloured creations that blend storytelling, furniture, and installations, such as Dulwich’s “Colour Palace”.
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- @tamsinjohnson – An Australian interior stylist who mixes vintage European design with unconventional palettes and contemporary art.
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- @matthewwilliamson – A British designer who translates vintage and botanical aesthetics from fashion into interiors, featuring wallpapers, fabrics, and furniture in striking colour palettes.
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- @beataheuman: A Swedish designer based in London whose theatrical, colourful style has been featured in House & Garden and Architectural Digest. She has also launched her own paint line, The Dependables, designed for those who want to use colour boldly but cleverly.
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These designers create expressive, character-filled interiors that are emotionally charged yet never overwhelming. Their use of colour is both intuitive and highly intentional.
Most Popular Dopamine Colour Palettes in 2025: Lacquer Red, Acid Green, Electric Blue
Today’s most popular colour combinations among young interior creators include bold, unexpected pairings. Key dopamine décor palettes include:
- Lacquer red – Warm and assertive; perfect for statement furniture or accent walls.
- Acid green – Fresh and energetic; ideal for accessories, architectural accents or trim.
- Electric blue – Deep, vibrant; used to create contrast and visual depth.
These vibrant tones are often balanced with neutral surfaces, such as light wood floors or white walls, to avoid visual overload and create bold yet harmonious environments.
It is now common to see daring colour combinations, with red corridors, malachite green bedrooms, and living rooms in blue and mustard, all softened by natural materials and warm lighting.
Why Bold Colour Is More Than A Trend: A Cultural Statement for Gen Z
The revival of colour is more than a visual trend; it represents a cultural statement. As The New York Times points out, an increasing number of young adults want their homes to reflect their moods, passions, and individuality. In this context, colour becomes a tool of self-expression.
Saying goodbye to beige means stepping out of anonymity, embracing emotional complexity, and turning the home into a vibrant and expressive space. Today, neutrality feels like a missed opportunity to tell your unique story.
How Decorating with Colour Supports Wellness and Emotional Identity
Bold design is more than just a trend. It is a meaningful response to the need for energy, authenticity, and sensory stimulation. Whether it involves repainting an entire room in acid green or adding a single lacquer red accent piece, every colour choice conveys a message.
In an uncertain world, choosing colour is an act of optimism—an assertion of presence and a celebration of identity, even within the confines of your own home.