Mandy Moore's living room decor taps into this enduring trend – experts say it's a mood-booster

The singer keeps her white living room visually stimulating with dopamine decor – featuring a pink velvet sofa, patterned rug, and bubble chandelier

Mandy Moore
(Image credit: Getty Images / Kevin Winter / Staff)

We love an unexpected mood-booster in a room. Whether through a colorful furnishing or a metallic accent, statement pieces in a room can immediately enhance a space.

Dopamine decor has made this strategy official, favoring bold colors and vibrant fixtures in the home. Mandy Moore, whose sophisticated, California home hit the market recently, just shared a snap from her living space, and needless to say, we are obsessed with her take on the trend.

The A Walk to Remember and This Is Us star's living space is backed by white paint, but this is where the neutral simplicity ends. We were instantly drawn to her bubble chandelier, which hangs from a black fixture, along with her velvet, mauve sofa and black-and-white checkered rug. Somehow, it all works together perfectly without overwhelming the space.

According to experts, dopamine decor has the same impact as a spa-like space; the difference being that instead of neutrals and muted fabrics, the trend capitalizes on colors and materials that energize and excite us.

'In an era where personal well-being and mental health have become paramount, a vibrant new trend has emerged in interior design, promising to infuse our living spaces with a burst of joy and positivity: dopamine decor,' designer Nina Lichtenstein states. 'This trend is all about curating environments that evoke happiness, stimulate the senses, and create a sense of playful exuberance. So what exactly does dopamine decor entail, what are some key pieces that define the trend, and how do you style a dopamine decor space for maximum impact?'

bold bright wallpapered living room with pink velvet sofa

(Image credit: Verde Interior Design)

Well, this starts with selecting an assortment of objects and furnishings that don't quite match, but also complement each other in small ways to ensure some semblance of uniformity.

'Forget matching sets; dopamine decor embraces variety,' Lichtenstein says. 'Choose furniture pieces that make a statement on their own. A brightly colored velvet sofa, a retro-inspired armchair, or a quirky coffee table can all serve as focal points.'

We can see that Moore has opted for the former, with a retro infusion via the rug and the bubble chandelier adding some softness to the area.

Lichtenstein continues, 'Select one or two bold statement pieces as the focal points of your space,' she says. 'This could be a brightly colored sofa, an oversized piece of artwork, or a unique piece of furniture. Build the rest of your decor around these pieces to ensure a cohesive look.'

Additionally, mixing and matching is not only allowed but encouraged within dopamine decor; a win for any pattern enthusiasts out there.

'Don’t be afraid to layer multiple colors and patterns,' Lichtenstein states. 'For example, pair a striped rug with floral cushions and a polka dot throw. The key is to find a common color theme that ties everything together, preventing the space from feeling chaotic.'

Furthermore, dopamine decor encourages experimentation. Colorful sofas are automatic mood-boosters, but smaller accents are also fantastic additions to infuse a space with some positive energy.


Hannah Ziegler
News Editor

Hannah is Homes & Gardens’ News Editor, with a focus on celebrity style and entertainment content. She got her start in media as a digital editorial assistant at ELLE Canada, and has since written about lifestyle and culture for publications such as Nylon and i-D.

Her love of film is rivalled only by one with a great soundtrack, and she hopes to someday decorate a Nancy Meyers-worthy kitchen.