Breaking beige: How dopamine decor is brightening Singapore’s neutral homes

A splash of colour in a muted space can add energy and individuality without feeling overwhelming. Read more at straitstimes.com.

SINGAPORE – Green door frames matching green-grouted tiles. A pair of red and orange lamps. A tabletop rack in multiple pastels.

These are among the surprising pops of colour that brighten home baker Wong Jie Hui’s executive apartment.

But her Bukit Panjang home is not a colour explosion. Her walls, floors and larger furniture pieces are in neutral shades of mainly white, grey and beige. The bright colours are strategically deployed for hits of vibrancy throughout the space. 

“I just really like pops of colour around the home. They are uplifting,” says the 37-year-old. Her family, including her husband and two children, moved into the 1,528 sq ft home in July 2025.

Likewise, the base of marketing professional Lim Min’s four-room HDB flat in Bishan is decidedly neutral, encompassing concrete screed flooring and white walls. But splashes of colour abound, from pale yellow cabinetry in the kitchen to a slouchy burgundy Ligne Roset Togo lounge chair in the living room.

She shares the home with her husband, who works in tech. They moved into the apartment in December 2025.