By Antoinette Berg, September 30, 2025
I see a lot of homes and sometimes they can blend together. There is a powerful shift when a home truly reflects its owner. Your home should be a haven and a reflection of you. The focus should be on creating a space that you LOVE while you live there, not on making decisions to please imaginary future buyers.
Playing with color and pattern for walls & trim can invite so much character and personality into your space.
Dopamine Decor
You’ve likely come across the term “Dopamine Decor”, design that actively boosts your mood. This doesn’t have to mean full-on maximalism or including every color of the rainbow, it can be whatever you want it to be; the whole idea is decorating your space in a way that makes you happy.
Think about what colors make you feel good. Even seemingly clashing color combinations can work together in certain situations. The same goes for wallpaper patterns. Personally, I want to see more texture, more playful patterns, more whimsy!
Color Drenching
“Color drenching” is the use of one color for the walls, ceiling, trim, even doors. This concept may seem overwhelming but it can create an impactful, sophisticated space. By lessening hard lines where colors start and stop, a small space is made to feel expansive and intimate.
Tip: If you want to try this but are unsure, try this in a small low-stakes space like a powder room.
Pattern Mixing
The idea of mixing patterns may send some running in the opposite direction, but when done well, mixing patterns can really breathe life into a space. The secret to successful pattern mixing is finding cohesion. Having elements in a space that share a color family, scale, or theme can tie things together.
Permission to Personalize
Many homeowners are afraid to make bold design choices because they’re worried about resale value. But here is my take: homes that have personality stand out in a buyer’s mind. Buyers often want the feeling of a special home, not just a blank canvas. If a future buyer hates your green kitchen, it’s a weekend project, not a serious renovation. You deserve to love the home you’re in!
Pictured listing by Yascha Noonberg.
Antoinette Berg
Broker | OR & WA
She/Her
As a native Oregonian, I have an extensive knowledge of the area but also a deep appreciation for all that it has to offer. I am a member of an incredible team here at Living Room Realty, The Yascha Group. I believe strongly in working together and I am a REALTOR® because I love helping people. A home is somewhere you create a life and my goal is to help everyone find the perfect house to make their home.
I was an NCAA Cross Country and Track & Field athlete at Western Oregon University, and graduated from the Honors College with a published thesis and a Business degree. My strategic and analytical background combined with my creative side is what allows me to succeed in serving my clients.
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- T: 503-683-1242
- toni@livingroomre.com
