Learn How Whimsical Home Decor Can Set an Upbeat Tone in Your Living Space

As a creative, when you decorate your house you’re looking for a distinct style. You want a finish that’s going be welcoming, bright and most importantly a reflection of your personality and free spirit. One of the most popular design themes that will instantly help you accomplish this is whimsical home decor. A lighthearted and joyful style that’s meant to bring charm to your living space. Crafty and millennial decorators can’t get enough of it. Discover our 10 fun and easy ways to add joy to your residence with whimsical home decor.
1. Adorable Statement Pieces
A fun and easy way to make your home more whimsical is with adorable statement pieces. They help bring character and one of a kind style. These are attributes that most crafters look for when styling his or her home to be more whimsy. Statement pieces are like the cherry on top of a decorated home pie. You can place them anywhere throughout your living space and witness them add originality and joy. Some of the best statement pieces to use for a whimsical home decor theme are:

- Bright color hand painted vases
- Exotic shaped vases
- Artsy sculpture pieces
- Unique table decor
2. Floral Print Decor
Another whimsical home decor trait that will easily add joy to your space is floral print decor. Floral print decor is great for making a home look pretty, upbeat and charming. This is partially due to flowers representing happiness, youth and life itself. A simple item with a floral pattern can transform the aura of any room in your home in matter of moments. It’s an easy and highly effective way to create a modern whimsical home decor theme. A few examples of floral print accents that can achieve this are:

- Decorative throw pillows
- Peel and stick wall paper
- Decorative switch plate covers
- Rugs
3. Fantasy Theme
Creating a fantasy theme is one of the best ways to set a whimsical tone in your home. Remember whimsical home decor is all about playfulness and happiness, but also a sense of magic. When styling your home with whimsical designs you want to think of joy and escapism combined into one. Some of the best elements to help create a fantasy theme are:
- Stars
- The sun
- The moon
- Galaxy

Ideally, the best room in the home to creative a whimsical, fantasy theme is the bedroom. However, other rooms you can incorporate this effect in is:
- Your bathroom
- Den
- Home office
- Kitchen
4. Fairytale Theme
A fairytale theme is another theme that’s great for easily bringing whimsy into your home. Similar to a fantasy theme it helps set a magical and joyful tone. It’s a great way for a creative or maximalist decorator to spruce up your living space with a unique style that’s never been seen before. This is especially true for bedroom decorating. A fairytale theme is ideal for a whimsical bedroom decor layout. It helps to set a fun, charming and comfort tone in your bedroom that you’ll instantly fall in love with. When using a fairytale theme to bring whimsy into any area of your home here are the best elements.

- Twinkling stars
- Winds
- Ruffle material
- Crowns and tiara
- Enchanted forests
- Fairytale colors such as purple, pink, pale blue and yellow
5. Dopamine Colors

Decorating with dopamine colors is one of the best ways to make your home more whimsical and upbeat. It’s a simple yet powerful way to incorporate your creative personality into your home. It doesn’t require major renovations or even heavy spending. You’re just selecting vibrant colors to place throughout your home as you see fit. Colors that have been proven to release dopamine and create a positive vibe in your residence. The best dopamine colors are:
- Purple
- Pink
- Red
- Blue
- Yellow
To learn more about dopamine decorating and the psychology behind how each color can bring joy into your home read our previous blog, 8 Fantastic Colors for a Dopamine Home Decor Theme.
6. Unique Wall Picture Frames
Unique wall picture frames are perfect for a creating a modern, whimsical home decor theme. It’s a fun and easy way to bring life and playfulness to your house. Decorating your walls are already a staple to sprucing up your home. For a happy, whimsical vibe the key is to design your walls with unique items. Instead of a standard size wall picture frame, hang up a wall painting that’s in an unusual shape. Below are a list of fun shapes you can place your different wall pictures and paintings in to successfully add whimsy to your home. They include:

- Triangle
- Octagon
- Heart
- Star
7. Fun Geometric Shaped Patterns
Incorporating fun, geometric shaped patterns in your home is a great way to make it more whimsical and joyful. Geometric patterns have a distinct look and style that instantly gives your house character and charm. They have been proven to spark positive emotions in the human brain, similar to decorating with dopamine colors. So adding these elements would be great for setting a joyful tone not only for yourself but for everyone who enters your residence. Some common geometric shaped patterns you can decorate with and their meaning are listed below.

- Polka dots – represents joy, playfulness and youth
- Repeating triangles – represents harmony, strength and balance
- Zig zags – life, flow and a powerful force
8. Hand Painted Furniture
One of the most fun ways to make your home more whimsical is by hand painting different pieces of furniture. Of course you would want to paint them with bright colors that will make your home more vibrant. This is a great option for whimsical decorating in regards to cost because you can simply paint furniture items you already have. So it’s a very affordable option. It also allows your creative juices to flow and makes for a fun activity to do at home. Hand painting furniture vibrant colors for whimsical decorating is perfect for DIY lovers and crafters. Examples of furniture pieces you can hand paint bright colors for a whimsical home design are:
- Stools
- Chairs
- Corner tables
- Bar carts

The best colors to paint these furniture pieces are:
- Pink
- Orange
- Purple
- Red
- Blue
- Yellow
- Multiple bright colors
9. Vintage Pieces
Adding vintage pieces throughout your home is a great and easy way to make it more whimsical. Vintage pieces have a sweet and timeless feel to them. Making your living space more meaningful and intimate. A collection of small vintage pieces such as knick-knacks help with increasing the overall aesthetics of your home. It also brings personality and makes any room in your house complete. They’re the perfect little treasure for maximalist home decorators. Other vintage pieces you can add for a whimsical home decor theme are:
- Tea cups
- Decorative glass bowls
- Antique lamps
- Wooden coffee tables

You can find these vintage pieces at a variety of stores including:
- Thrift shops
- Shopping outlets
- Yard sales
10. Arches
The last but certainly not least fun element you can add to your home to make it more whimsy are arches. Yes arches have long been synonymous with creating a cheerful and happy atmosphere. According to psychology experts the curve of the arches make represents growth and new beginnings. The arches also makes people feel welcomed and safe. The human brain associates arches with love and comfort. This makes it one of the best features you can add to your home for a whimsical and inviting feel. You can incorporate arches with:
- Hanging wall decal
- Small sculptures
- Table decor
- Hand painting arches throughout the home yourself on your walls, in the bathroom, on your windows.

Think of major companies that use arches in their brands. The most famous being McDonald’s with their golden arch. Notice how it’s yellow, bright and associated with happiness and play.
These fun and easy tips for bringing joy into your space with whimsical home decor are just the beginning. The best part about a creative style such as a whimsy theme are the endless possibilities. You can approach a whimsical home decor theme however you truly see fit. These examples are just stepping stones. The most important thing to remember is to always add your original personality into the mix.
Fun Fact: The term “whimsical” was first coined around 1653. It derived from the word “whimsy”, which was coined in 1605, and that term came from the phrase “whim-wham, which was first used around the year 1500 to describe a playful decorative item. – Source Merriam Webster