As students move back to campus, the decorating trend this year is all about dopamine.
It’s that neurotransmitter made in your brain, and it’s often referred to as the “feel-good” trigger. When we are relaxed and happy, our brains send a signal to our body to produce more dopamine. Ever suddenly “feel happy” for reasons you can’t explain? That’s a wave of dopamine. Ever learn something new and finally “get it?” That “light bulb” going off over your head? Dopamine! Ever finish a conversation with a friend that puts a spring in your step? You got it. Dopamine!
But did you know there is a new term for how to make your interior surroundings feel more like “home?” It’s called “Dopamine Decorating,” and as students come back to campus and move into student housing and even off-campus housing, many of them will be utilizing principles of this trend without even realizing it. Indeed, while the term is brand new, the philosophy behind wanting to make your personal space feel more like “you” is a back-to-school tradition that goes back generations.
Here at WVU Potomac State College, the principle and idea behind “Dopamine Decorating” is not lost on Michelle House, Behavioral Health Therapist, LGSW. House said students living on campus will certainly be incorporating this philosophy into their interior styles.
“Dopamine decorating is a way to give our brains a steady release of the ‘feel good’ while avoiding crashes or low energy feelings that come with the ‘hits’,” House said. “It also incorporates color psychology, which is how different colors influence human mood, emotion, and behavior.”
Color can have a direct impact on our mood too. The choices of colors can also turn on a natural dopamine drip.
“Color is used in every part of our lives, from textiles to culinary dishes to interior design to our natural surroundings. Every color has characteristics associated with it,” House said. “For instance, when we think of red, we often think of passion, anger, love, the heart. When we think of blue, think ‘true blue’ – loyalty, honesty, but also sadness and calm. Where red can amp up your heart rate, blue calms it down. Green represents the natural world, but also think ‘green with envy’ as well as green is a sign for sickness. Orange represents being creative and alert. Yellow symbolizes bright, happy, joyful, cowardice. Every color is unique from person to person and can create whatever experience we’re looking for. Think about what colors represent you and your personality when creating your spaces and don’t be afraid to use them. Also consider what colors can make you feel overwhelmed, claustrophobic, depressed, etc., and use those minimally”
Color is not the only thing to consider when we are dopamine decorating. Textures and scents are important too, House said.
“Textures can be anything from silks, wood, velvet, chiffons, rattan, glass, cotton, linen and all the associations that go along with them,” she said. “Texture sensitivity is a real concern, however. Just like with certain foods, certain textures can sometimes negatively affect our nervous systems and can actually trigger a fight-or-flight response if there is an aversion to it. I suggest feeling different textures to know what your body likes and doesn’t before incorporating them into your living space.”
And then there is the sense of smell to consider. Did you know among the five major senses, smell is the one most hard-wired to our memory?
“Because smell is directly connected to emotional sensors in our brains, adding scents that bring you joy and elevate your mood are important,” House said. “Think about how powerful the sense of smell is when recalling memories. I would suggest incorporating scents that connect you back to an earlier memory that feels good. Maybe the smell of a flower at your grandma’s house, or a special cookie your mom made, or the pleasant scent of dad’s cologne. Whatever makes you happy, go with it.”
In addition to being a “feel-good” chemical, dopamine is also responsible for triggers in our brain and in our body that are also connected to other educational assets like memory, mood, learning, attention, recall, and motivation – all skills called upon during any given semester.
As students return to campus living on Sunday, August 16 for the official move-in day, Kara Hotchkiss, director of residence life and coordinator of student engagement at WVU PSC, said it is always fascinating to see what trends, colors, and textures will be incorporated into dorm design.
“Students tend to decorate their rooms with items that transform the space into something of their own. We see a lot of photo walls, posters from high school athletic teams, etc,” she said. “Dorm decoration has become more of a trend recently. I think it’s an exciting way for a fresh start for a lot of students living on campus. They essentially have a blank slate, so they can choose whatever color scheme and patterns they want.”
For most students, this is probably their first opportunity for “independent” living away from their family's house. But no student is completely on his or her own while he or she lives here, Hotchkiss said.
“If you don’t know the answer to something, ask. Even if it feels silly. Ask me or someone on my team, or an RA,” she said. “How to do laundry? How to find people with similar interests? How to have tough conversations? How to navigate homesickness? What to wear to an event? We’ve lived through and seen a lot of things. Chances are someone has the info you’re looking for.”
Hotchkiss said students are welcome to incorporate as many “dopamine decorating” items as they like into their living spaces as long as it fits in the guidelines of what is permitted in the residence halls.
“We welcome students to bring in things that do remind them of home - pictures, stuffed animals. But also don’t forget cleaning supplies for your room. Don’t let your room be the stinky place. And plungers – please bring a plunger.”
There are, however, some “comforts” of home that are prohibited and discouraged from student housing.
“Candles, wax warmers, incense, anything with an open flame or wax is a big no,” Hotchkiss said. “Microwaves, air fryers, crockpots, waffle irons, griddles, electric skillets. You are not Gordon Ramsay. You do not need a mini kitchen in your dorm. Pets that aren’t approved through the Office of Student Accommodations. And visitors. Non-resident students staying over for more than two days are not permitted in a room. Hotel Potomac State isn’t a real thing.”
To reach Michelle House, visit her during office hours at WVU Potomac State College inside Reynolds Hall, email her at mahouse@mail.wvu.edu, or call 304-788-6976. Crisis lines are always open at 1-844-BTR-MYND (1-844-287-6963) or text WVU to 741741.
To reach Kara Hotchkiss with questions about student life and housing, email kara.hotchkiss@mail.wvu.edu.