Designers say the Molly Mahon wallpaper in Gray Benko's bathroom will make you happier – and it's available at Wayfair

Interiors experts say bright colors in a bathroom can have surprising psychological benefits

pink blue and green bathroom with molly mahon pink wallpaper
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Bright, whimsical colored walls have emerged as one of the biggest interior design trends of 2023. Interior designer Gray Benko is one of the harbingers of the style, decorating South Carolina homes in colorful, fun-loving fabrics and paints on her Magnolia Network show Happy at Home with the Benkos. On the show, Gray creates beautiful spaces with her contractor dad as well as her husband, Mike. 

Globally renowned British printmaker Molly Mahon recently shared a bathroom designed by Gray featuring her Marigold Floral wallpaper, made by Schumacher. The room is peak dopamine decor.

Featuring cobalt blue tiles, cool mint green cabinets, and a hot pink tub mat, it's impossible to look at the room without smiling. However, the real star of the show is the pink marigold Molly Mahon wallpaper. The pink flowers bring out the brightness in the entire space and create a fun, whimsical feel. 

Even better, Gray Benko's wallpaper is available at Wayfair.

'I love Grey Benko’s bathroom. She is a master at bringing color into the home,' gushes Melanie Thomas, LA-based interior artist and wallpaper expert. 'The Molly Mahon wallpaper brings in pattern in color without the use of a ton of artwork, which can be tricky in a bathroom,' she continues.

melanie thomas wallpaper
Melanie Thomas

Melanie has a passion for bright, whimsical interiors that combine multiple colors and patterns. She encourages clients to start their own design collections and build gorgeous, unique spaces.

Interior designer Jove Meyer says that these colors are exceptionally captivating: 'The benefits of a bright blue color scheme is that it draws the eye and person into the space, especially the various shades of the blue tiles, they have a movement that entices you to enter the space and fully embraces you when you're there.'

jove meyer of jove meyer designs
Jove Meyer

Jove Meyer crafts a vivid, colorful world inspired by his clients who dare to be different. Meyer set out to build a global design firm antithetical to his conservative and rigid upbringing by encouraging authenticity, celebrating diversity, and empowering marginalized communities. As a result, his work has been featured in Domino, Good Morning America, The Magnolia Network, The New York Times, Rachael Ray Magazine.

The experts go on to say that the bathroom color scheme has surprising psychological benefits. 'Color makes people happy, it brings your mood up and
lifts your spirit, so why not start your day off on a good note with some beautiful color, pattern, and design? This makes bright shades perfect for a bathroom,' adds Jove Meyer.

Furthermore, the colors in Gray Benko's bathroom promote confidence, 'Pink is an excellent choice because 'every' skin tone looks good in pink. This is ideal for getting yourself put together because we all know confidence is the number one essential for beauty,' says Melanie Thomas.

The color scheme is also relaxing. Melanie says, 'I also love the blue because the bathroom is not only a place to get ready, but it’s also where one starts and ends the day. Blue grounds the space and brings in the calming effect.'


Next time you think about interior design, a great place to start is with colors that make a room happy.

Sophie Edwards
News Editor

Sophie is a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens, where she works on the Celebrity Style team. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly excited when researching trends or interior history. Sophie is an avid pop culture fan. As an H&G editor, she has interviewed the likes of Martha Stewart, Hilary Duff, and the casts of Queer Eye and Selling Sunset. Before joining Future Publishing, Sophie worked as the Head of Content and Communications at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens and furniture brand. She has also written features on exciting developments in the design world for Westport Magazine. Sophie has an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.