Summer 2024 is all about vibrant, personalized home decor. The trend of "dopamine decor" is skyrocketing, with bold, joyful colors that evoke happiness and well-being. Inspired by Pinterest trends, let's explore how to integrate this vibrant style into pet-friendly spaces, making your home a sanctuary both for you and your soulful sidekick.

What is "dopamine decor"?

Dopamine decor is a design trend focused on creating spaces that evoke joy and happiness through the use of colors, playfully-personalized elements, and an emphasis on comfort and character. It's all about infusing your home with colors that boost your mood and make you feel good every time you step into a room. This trend challenges the norm of neutral, understated interiors by embracing a more exuberant and personalized approach (Pinterest).

Haley Boyko's colorful Long Beach loft featured in Apartment Therapy

What is color drenching?

Color drenching involves saturating a space with a single color or a palette of complementary hues to create a bold, immersive environment. This technique uses color in a powerful way to transform the atmosphere of a room, making it more dynamic and engaging. By fully committing to a color scheme, you can create a striking, cohesive look that envelops you in its vibrancy.

The science of color perception in pets

Forget the myth that dogs and cats see the world in dull grays. Dogs and cats indeed see the world in a range of hues and tones, albiet a bit more restricted than we do. And beyond just influencing what they see, color can also impact the emotions they feel on a day-to-day basis. That's right, according to science that paint palette isn't just for aesthetics—it can truly influence the mood and behavior of the companions who share our spaces.

In general, blue calms, making it ideal for rest areas. Yellow stimulates, perfect for play zones. Green soothes, helping cats feel balanced. These psychological effects are well-documented, making color choices crucial for your pets' well-being.

Exploring pet-friendly colors

Let's dive into the nerdy stuff. Dogs' color vision is more limited than humans but not nonexistent. They are dichromatic, meaning they have two types of color receptors (cones) and primarily see in shades of blue and yellow. They also can percieve shades of blacks, whites, and grays, This differs significantly from the human ability to see a full spectrum of colors but still allows dogs to distinguish between some hues. Research has shown that dogs can indeed differentiate between colors like blue and yellow and use these distinctions in their daily activities​ (Smithsonian Magazine)​​ (Basepaws DNA Pets)​.

Similarly, cats are also believed to perceive colors, though their vision is similarly limited compared to humans. Our little lions see best in shades of blue and green, which can enhance their interaction with toys and environments that feature these colors. While their overall color perception is not as extensive as ours, the colors they can see play a role in their daily lives and behaviors​ (ElleVet Sciences)​.

Inspiration for pet spaces

So, how do we take these human design trends and tailor them to aid our curious copilots? Let's start with color drenching. If you're looking to explore calming color palettes that encourage tranquility and rest, you can give this pallet from our friends at Fear Free a try.

Selecting paint and furniture colors that rock these soothing tones can be a great choice for a pet-friendly space away from the chaos of the family room or kitchen. Here are some more tips to consider when embarking on a dopamine decor overhaul for your dog or cat:

Pet Beds and Furniture: Ditch the bland pet beds and opt for cushions in colors your pet can percieve; it may make it easier for them to comfortably crash at the end of the day when the light is low. Choose durable pieces that can withstand pet use but keep in mind comfort as well - this decor trend is all about infusing joy and good vibes wherever you can.

Bold yellow pet beds from Etsy

Playful Accessories: Transform your space with pet accessories that your pets can see and that encourage play. Blue and yellow toys captivate dogs; blue and green toys excite cats. These elements are both stylish and functional, enhancing the overall ambiance. Cat trees in their color range can also invite interaction and engagment.

Ikea's pet collection features toys and accessories in pet-accessible colors

Color-Coordinated Feeding Stations: Make mealtime a visual delight. Use bold, eye-catching colors for feeding stations. Choose bowls and mats in contrasting colors like blue and yellow for dogs, or blue and green for cats.

Zezelife offers bold food mats in vibrant colors

Safe and Non-Toxic Materials: Prioritize your pets’ health. Use pet-safe, non-toxic paints and materials. Brands like ECOS Paints and The Real Milk Paint Co. offer excellent options. Durable fabrics and easy-to-clean materials ensure your vibrant decor is both safe and practical.

Lighting and Ambiance: Lighting affects moods and behavior for many different animal species - humans included! Maximize natural light for a bright, airy space. Use pet-safe lamps (aka lamps that can't easily be knocked over or destroyed) to create a warm environment. Soft, warm lighting can create a cozy atmosphere, while brighter lights can make play areas more engaging.

Hair-hiding Rugs and Mats: Choose colorful, washable rugs and mats. They add comfort and style to pet spaces and can be easily cleaned, maintaining a fresh look. Bold colors vs whites or neutrals can mask pet hair and stains - an inevitability if you're a pet parent.

Storage Solutions: A necessity whether you buy them in bold colors or not, storage solutions keep pet toys, treats, and accessories organized. Utilize bins and shelves to add a decorative touch and keep everything in place, and out of reach from curious cats and peckish pups.

Customizable Pet Spaces: It's 2024, and your pet deserves a space all their own. By tailoring their area to encourage rest and relaxation, and personalizing it to their needs (for example floor mats for older, mobility-challenged dogs or vertical landings for athletic kitties), you can create an inviting space that's all their own.

This space employs color-drenching in a pet-friendly, tranquil hue

Even animal shelters are hopping on the bandwagon

Many animal shelters have begun to implement design philosophies like color theory and dopamine decor to create more pleasant environments for pets. For example:

• Denver Animal Shelter: The recently renovated city shelter boasts 37 skylights that provide soothing natural light, while radiant heated floors in dog kennels provide comfort and warmth.

• Aiken County Animal Shelter: After an overhaul by the Humane Society of the United States, this shelter implemented smaller wings that open to the fresh air and allow for public viewing, increasing the comfort of their pet residents and simultaneously doubling adoption rates.

• Best Friends Animal Society’s Pet Resource Center: Integrates an open design concept that eliminates the need for kennels and even houses an enrichment center for dogs.

• Wallis Annenberg PetSpace: This adoption center designed its kennels to resemble living rooms rather than kennels. With TVs that play pet-friendly programming and comfortable beds for the dogs to loungue on, the center is designed to feel inviting and personalized.

While these shelters set a high standard that all animal shelters and pet parent homes should aspire to, we must acknowledge the reality that such thoughtful designs often come with a hefty price tag. Until funding for animal welfare improves nationwide and we address the homeless pet epidemic, dopamine decor-designed spaces will remain an inspiring exception rather than the norm.

Empowering pet parents

Remember, your pets deserve the best. By prioritizing their health and well-being through thoughtful design choices, you're not just following a trend—you're enhancing their quality of life.

Challenge the status quo of bland, generic pet spaces and create an environment that's as unique as your pets. Your home can be a sanctuary of color, joy, and comfort for every member of your pack, two-legged and four alike.

Lizz Caputo is the Manager of Content Strategy at Figo, animal enthusiast, and owner of a rescued senior American Bully. Her hobbies include checking out new restaurants in her area, boxing, and petting dogs of all shapes and sizes.