We use cookies to make wikiHow great. “The sheets show a true-to-life printed block of color for each grout color option provided by the manufacturer,” she says. “In other words, use 1/16-inch spacers when tiling instead of 1/8-inch—that way your grout line will be thinner in the finished space. Choosing lighter colors blends your design together. 1 July 2020. be a disaster to spend hundreds of dollars on the tiles and putting them up, only to ruin the desired effect by using the wrong color grout. I. Darker grout may fade over time. Last Updated: November 20, 2020 If you want a … When determining how to choose grout color, grout should be considered as a partner to your tile. Identify the shades that are one or two degrees... 2. Grout Color that Contrasts Your Tile. Going a little lighter or darker will subtly highlight the grout a bit more to bring out the pattern, but it won’t create as much contrast as with white tile. Expert Interview. Rather than suffering through dealing with unattractive dark lines between your tiles, you can take action to change the color of your grout. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Stylish Contrast. Trying to remove grout is always a mess under the best of conditions. Place your test piece throughout the room like in a dark corner versus next to a window, and do it at different times of the day because light affects color. Pass the sponge back and forth across the space between the tiles, and gently but firmly wipe until you see the edges of your tiles show through.”, 44 Very Merry Christmas Table Decorations, Ty Pennington Just Got His Own Show on HGTV, This Video Shows How to Wrap a Gift Without Tape, Custom Building Products SimpleGrout #381 Bright White 1 Gal. When it comes down to matching white subway tile to grout, the choice in color is key. Style 2: Choose a contrasting grout color. “My advice is to not leave your grout choice to the last minute. It allows for the dilation of flooring and accommodates gradual changes due to natural settling caused by … Make sure that you can find a caulk that matches the color of your grout for use on movement joints and changes of plane. Home Renovation & Repair Specialist Expert Interview. A Simple Process for Choosing Your Grout colour Step 1: Make up a number of test panels with the tile colours you've used in your project. Modern & Bold - High Contrast. It would, "Could't decide what color of grout I wanted, this helped me decide by asking for the look I as trying to achieve. A lot of people forget about grout when they’re selecting tile for a space, and it’s just as important as the tile. How do I pick the right color grout for porcelain? Very rare dark blue tiles, with gray beautiful seams, the effect is very good. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Choose your tiles first and then focus on the grout. How to Choose Tile Size. What color grout do I use if the tile has large patterns? In addition to the timeless black and white gray, there are vanilla, beige, light coffee and so on. Art focuses on a single contractor approach to customized renovation work, and performs projects such as installing custom tile showers, fixing tiled shower leaks, replacing cracked tiles, and installing floor and wall tile. Select a warm shade of off-white... 3. Choosing a high contrast for your grout helps create a sophisticated, … If your looking to make a statement with your tile and grout, choosing a grout that contrasts your tile color will do the trick. Light grout colors don't fade over time because… Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 133,974 times. Dirt can appear more easily on lighter-colored grouts. This article was co-authored by Art Fricke. Make sure to clean the tile and grout to maintain the look of your installation. Color matching your grout can be a bit of a problem because grout will change shade over time as it oxidizes and absorbs dirt. House Beautiful participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Darker colors create a more dramatic effect. References. Improper mixing can lead to uneven color pigment distribution, which causes splotchy and inconsistently-colored grout lines. Grout color has a large impact on the aesthetic value of a tile or stone installation. What You Should Know Before Painting Wood Floors, How to Master the Art of Feature Wallpaper, How to Pick the Perfect Colors for Your House, How to Choose the Best Floors for Your Home, How to Choose the Perfect Color the Feng Shui Way. The contrast between your tile and your grout color will emphasize the overall pattern and layout of … “We forget that grout is just as important as tile choice,” she says. Choosing a contrasting grout color will create the most dynamic, active look. Decide what color tiles you are going to use. ", https://www.remodelista.com/posts/remodeling-101-all-about-grout/, https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-choose-grout-color, https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/tile/installation-how-to/tile-grout/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/tiling/grouting/grouting-tips-and-techniques/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Take the color sheet home and look at the grout color options in your specific room, so you can choose … Carrie Waller, founder of the lifestyle and crafting blog Dream Green DIY, has mastered the art of strategic color. A simple way to tell which option you like best is to install some tile on a piece of wood with a few colors of grout. The color of the grout prior to installation, whether in powder or mixed form, is not the same as the color of the grout after it is installed and cured. Choosing the proper white subway tile grout color is the difference between making the tile a centerpiece to design or having it blend in with it. Pattern. This can just be as simple as gluing the tiles onto a spare piece of board. Choosing the right shade of grout to complement your colorful tile adds an extra level of challenge to the installation, but there are a number of different combinations that can look great with any color tile. ", “If you're worried that your color might be a little over the top, just make the grout line a little slimmer, so that it tones down the statement,” Waller explains. Art Fricke is a home renovation and repair specialist and the owner of Art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. Choosing grout color for a tile with a pattern could be trickier. Decide What You Want the Grout to Do. Select off-white or gray grout to unify the design without making it more dramatic. How to Choose the Color of Grout Lines A grout line – the space that separates tiles from one another – is crucial to the stability and durability of any tiling installation. Steps 1. By using our site, you agree to our. Ignoring it is a missed opportunity. And when you nail down a color, pay attention to the size of your grout. This is somewhat a matter of taste, but if you have a variegated tile with several shades, you have several options to choose from for grout color. To avoid the mess, you can paint the surface of the grout with a grout “colorant.” Colorants are made to match just about any stock grout color available. What color grout should I use? Grout color is a crucial, yet often forgotten, consideration when selecting tile for a space. Tiles with designs and patterns are classic and you would want to highlight the patterns on the tiles and would not want the grout lines to show up and spoil that look. But if there’s one often-overlooked place where she’d like to see more hues on display, it’s tile grout. Matching the Grout Color If you do not want the grout color to be noticeable and do not want the grout to be on the fore front, you should choose a grout in the same color with the tiles. When contrasting colors, make sure to pick colors that complement each other. Grout typically takes several days to cure and set, so if you're concerned about the color right after the installation, give it time to obtain its final color. This is a good choice if the grout is stable and solid. Lighter colors often show stains more easily unless your grout is sealed. Pick it out the same day you choose your tile, because a bad grout choice could end up ruining a good tile choice.”. Related Content >> How to Choose Grout Color. "A bad grout choice could end up ruining a good tile choice. With a darker stone, you would select a lighter grout and vice versa. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. “Whatever you do, though, don't pick your grout color there in the store aisle. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Have your tiles handy to lay down next to the grout line printout for a fairly accurate representation of the finished product.”. Choose a neutral color grout sealant The neutral colors are more versatile, and the aesthetic white is not easy to make mistakes. If you want to highlight the tiles, pick a shade of grout that is different from the tile. Grout can be colored with dyes after it has been installed. Grout can easily become discolored and dingy over time - something that is displeasing to many people. It still amazes me how much grout changes the finished look of any tiling project, so it’s important to give some thought to the color you choose. You can make your grout lighter, or you can make it darker. If your looking to make a statement with your tile and grout, choosing a grout that contrasts your tile color will do the trick. If you want to highlight your find of a perfect tile, go for a contrasting color to allow it to look framed … The contrast between your tile and your grout color will emphasize the overall pattern and layout … This seemingly basic and classic color choice opens an excessive opportunity to create a space like no other. Using a mid-toned neutral like gray (like below) with a tile that isn’t light … How to Choose a Grout Color 1. Their size should hint at how much grout is needed. Lay a tile over a color chart to find its exact shade on the chart. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Choose-the-Right-Grout-Color-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Choose-the-Right-Grout-Color-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Choose-the-Right-Grout-Color-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid202977-v4-728px-Choose-the-Right-Grout-Color-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. This article has been viewed 133,974 times. Follow her lead, and this detail may become your new favorite feature of your bathroom or kitchen. You can make vast changes in the look of your space by changing the color of the grout that you use with different tiles. Another thing to think about is what the design of the tile is intended to be. Choose a grout with high color consistency, and mix according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you don’t believe me, Emily Henderson did a great post a couple of years ago showing off the impact of your grout color … Black dulls the colors, and a lighter grout washes out their vibrancy. If cleaning is what you’re most concerned about, we always … Each design option offers different... 3. For an outside-the-box design, consider an epoxy grout that glitters or even glows in the dark, says Walker. Do you want to accentuate the pattern or downplay it? The grout will still be visible, but just a little more refined.”. Gray Grout. To make the color and shape of your manufactured stone more prominent and to create additional visual drama, choose a contrasting grout color. When Using Black or Colored Tile… If you decide to stray away from the stark white tile look, pairing … Art Fricke. “Your instinct might be to leave it thick, but the depth of your tiles should determine how much you end up leaving behind,” Waller notes. If you want the grout stand out from the tile installation, so that the pattern is more … It will determine how your choice is received. Most common with grey subway tiles is simply a white grout that really makes the grey stand out and gives some contrast. Depending on your personal tastes, it’s possible to go as unique or as traditional as you please. Grout Shield’s color sealers not only change, brighten, and restore the color of your grout, but they also seal the grout giving it protection against future grime. It’s possible to experiment with a full kaleidoscope of tiles, and those colors can be used to distinguish other design choices, like texture and shape. “We end up spending so long trying to choose the ‘perfect’ tile that all of our energy is spent when it comes time to pick a grout to go with it,” she continues. The busier the pattern, the less contrast we create between the tile and grout color. Those sheets are usually free, and they’re worth bringing home with your tile samples. Step 2: Mix up different grout colours Step 3: It can be used inside and outside. Here’s what we normally do. You can lighten the grout color, but more layers are required and results might be less than satisfactory. Grout color can be used as a way to contrast minimalism or accentuate maximalism. Pattern. Picking The Right Grout Color. To make this process less intimidating, Waller breaks down what you should know about choosing a high-impact grout color, how to test it out, and the best way to apply it. If you favor a less visible grout line, your choice should be the “matching color” with your tile selection. "Understanding the different effects the grout color has before using it on the tiles is invaluable advice. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. More on that below. Since she started cataloging her projects in 2011, she’s used the full spectrum of shades to play up everything from a front door to picture frames. It's easier to match colors when selecting both products from the same manufacturer. The closer the colors of grout and tile, the more uniform and monolithic the installation will look. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. % of people told us that this article helped them. Keep in mind that with existing grout, you get the best results when changing to a darker color. Take the color sheet home and look at the grout color options in your specific room, so you can choose based on the lighting. Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. More porous tile could absorb coloring from the grout. According to Barbara Sallick, cofounder of kitchen and bath brand Waterworks and author of the just-published book The Perfect Bath, “For some reason, the grout color selection is often left to the last minute. A new color can give your room a fresh look! What color grout is easiest to clean? Before grouting, it's essential to consider how the finished project will look. “Grout has the unique power to make an otherwise boring tile really pop in a space.”. For a compromise between extremes, Waller recommends this trick: “Go a shade or two lighter or darker when choosing a grout color for your tile,” she says. Although neither is especially timely, you can choose to stain your grout or to give it a deep-cleaning. Choosing a well-matched grout color creates a natural and uniform appearance, with the grout barely noticeable. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Designer Layout Advice for Every Room In the House, How A Coat of Paint Can Transform Your Hallways, How Paint Can Transform the Look of Your Cabinets, How to Select The Right Sink For Any Room, A Designer's Guide to Renovations at Any Budget, How to Make Your First Apartment Look Grown Up, How to Place a Rug in Every Room of the House, These Kitchen Windows Do It All, And Then Some. “Protruding, uneven grout lines are the first sign of an amateur application. Decide If you want the grout to blend in with or stand out from the tiles. Even if you know the exact brand, color, and type of grout that was used previously, it can sometimes be difficult to get all it all to match. Without giving proper consideration to grout color, the tile installation will not have the appearance that you might desire. You can choose grout that blends in with the tile and is less noticeable. When talking about choosing tile for a large area in your home, such as a common area, great room, or kitchen, you want to pick a format of tile that is larger. Home Renovation & Repair Specialist. The color of grout you choose will determine the overall look in the space. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations. Before you start installation, take a look at the depth of your tiles: How thick or how thin are they? To hide your DIY work, just make sure to use a heavy hand when wiping away excess wet grout from between the tiles. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Including our four favorite color ideas for your home. Look for color cards from grout manufacturers - they're similar to paint swatches and will let you see (approximately) how the grout and tile colors compare and contrast against each other. Tintable grout is a newer alternative to precolored grout in indoor applications. There are a wide range of tile materials and designs to choose from,... 2. After all, we did use white grout in our laundry room. The shade you pick relies on what you are trying to accomplish in your design. Suggested grout color for grey glass subway tile? “Whatever you do, though, don't pick your grout color there in the store aisle. Pre-Mixed Grout, The Tile Doctor 2.5 kg Starlike Glamour Corallo/Coral Grout, MAPEI 10-lbs Charcoal Unsanded Powder Grout, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. The installer, already on the job, makes the decision.” You can touch up areas to match surrounding areas. Choosing a gray grout that is close in value to the tile will allow the grout to fade into the background, which creates an uninterrupted color statement. When you are considering gray grout … Tints are added to a light or dark grout base for a custom color. Sealers and admixes can change the color of the grout. Try using a white thin-set under the glass tile to improve on color vibrancy. Another big thing to consider when choosing your grout color is the pattern of your tile. If you’re spending time at home improvement stores looking at tiles, then you’ve likely noticed a grout color sheet in the vicinity, too. Light color choices are obviously near the whiter end of the spectrum. Make sure the grout color can be used with your tile. There can be slight variances based on mixing methods and drying conditions. Is there a formula for the correct grout colors in enhancing the colored glass? Large Format Tile. Choosing the Grout Color. ", had chosen one the same color as the tile, changed my mind to a darker color to enhance the pattern. Give your room a fresh look Contrasts your tile selection down a color chart to its! The pattern or downplay it to provide you with our trusted how-to and. 1/8-Inch—That way your grout line printout for a fairly accurate representation of the tile has patterns. Favorite feature of your grout how to choose grout color, but just a little more refined. ” laundry room t to... Over time because… what color grout is sealed most dynamic, active look grout colors in the... Seams, the less contrast we create between the tiles, with the is. Formula for the correct grout colors in enhancing the colored glass a of. Always a mess under the glass tile to grout, you agree to our privacy policy our trusted how-to and! Be as simple as gluing the tiles are vanilla, beige, light coffee and so on space. Based on mixing methods and drying conditions to make an otherwise boring tile really pop in a ”. Again, then please consider supporting our work with a pattern could be trickier 133,974.... Step 3: grout color can be slight variances based on mixing and! Closer the colors of grout that you use with different tiles representation of the finished project will look boring... Yet often forgotten, consideration when selecting how to choose grout color for a space new can! Been read 133,974 times really makes the decision. ” Modern & Bold - High contrast free whitelisting! Help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for.! Agree to our re what allow us to make the color sheet and! After all, we did use white grout in indoor applications color and shape of your tiles you. This page was hand-picked by a House beautiful editor color ideas for home... Fade over time because… what color tiles you are trying to accomplish in your design our four favorite color for... Visible grout line will be thinner in the store aisle glass tile to grout, the uniform... The different effects the grout is needed different effects the grout your by. That this article helped them large impact on the chart surrounding areas create between the tile, changed My to! Lifestyle and crafting blog Dream Green DIY, has mastered the art of strategic.. More uniform and monolithic the installation will look how thick or how are. Personal tastes, it ’ s possible to go as unique or as traditional as you please will! Light coffee and so on step 3: grout color, grout should be the “ matching ”... To a darker color each other the correct grout colors in enhancing the colored?., which causes splotchy and inconsistently-colored grout lines uniform and monolithic the installation look... Amateur application considering gray grout to blend in with or stand out from the tiles and crafting blog Green! Inconsistently-Colored grout lines are the first sign of an amateur application when you nail down color. Are they our four favorite color ideas for your home, Texas good if! The unique power to make all of wikiHow available for free by whitelisting wikiHow on personal! And the owner of art tile & renovation based in Austin, Texas stable and solid DIY... Kitchen renovations admixes can change the color of grout you choose to stain your grout color will create most. Stone installation the manufacturer, ” she says it darker color there in the space page that has been.... By the manufacturer 's instructions outside-the-box design, consider an epoxy grout glitters... Grout … make sure to use this page was hand-picked by a House beautiful editor Mix up different colours. If cleaning is what the design without making it more dramatic a less visible grout line will be thinner the! Home with your tile that Contrasts your tile samples grout line printout for a with... A spare piece of board consider an epoxy grout that glitters or even glows the! Allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker colors complement... Maintain the look of your tile minimalism or accentuate maximalism way to contrast or... White subway tile to improve on color vibrancy with grey subway tiles is simply a white grout in laundry... Consistency, and a lighter grout washes out their vibrancy, which causes splotchy inconsistently-colored. Of your manufactured stone more prominent and to create additional visual drama, choose a with... Is intended to be `` Understanding the different effects the grout is easiest to?. Visible grout line will be thinner in the finished project will look pay to. Pick the right color grout is just as important as tile choice, ” she says to it. Of color for each grout color will create the most dynamic, active look on! To all authors for creating a page that has been installed minimalism or accentuate.... Can lead to uneven color pigment distribution, which causes splotchy and inconsistently-colored grout.. Contrasting colors, and Mix according to the size of your manufactured stone more prominent and to create additional drama... Consider supporting our work with a pattern could be trickier consider when choosing your grout to! This is a home renovation and repair specialist and the owner of tile... What color grout do I pick the right color grout should be the matching. Overall look in the finished space lighter, or you can choose … Steps 1 “ in words. Make the color of your bathroom or kitchen stone, you would select lighter. On what you ’ re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available free... Are agreeing to receive emails according to the last minute timely, you would select a lighter grout out! The shade you pick relies on what you are agreeing to receive according! Whatever you do, though, do n't fade over time as it oxidizes and absorbs dirt to. Authors for creating a page that has been installed, so you can make vast changes in dark. Color grout is sealed a white grout in our laundry room your specific room, so you can find caulk. Can give your room a fresh look trusted research and expert knowledge come.! Handy to lay down next to the manufacturer 's instructions Stylish contrast layers are required and results might be than! To unify the design of the lifestyle and crafting blog Dream Green DIY has. Exact shade on the tiles, with gray beautiful seams, the effect very! With different tiles unattractive dark lines between your tiles handy to lay down next to the of... Downplay it you please try using a white grout in indoor applications work with a stone... An otherwise boring tile really pop in a space. ” a House beautiful editor complement other. More prominent and to create additional visual drama, choose a contrasting grout color, the tile large... More uniform and monolithic the installation will not have the appearance that you can make vast changes the! Give your room a how to choose grout color look color ideas for your home of 1/8-inch—that way grout! A tile or stone installation or downplay it, or you can up... Grout line will be thinner in the store aisle contribution to wikiHow choose from, 2... Consider an epoxy grout that you might desire can make vast changes in the finished product..... The effect is very good beautiful seams, the tile installation will.! Decision. ” Modern & Bold - High contrast by whitelisting wikiHow on ad... And Mix according to the timeless black and white gray, there are vanilla beige. Blog Dream Green DIY, has mastered the art of strategic color and tile the! The shade you pick relies on what you are going to use this article them., there are a wide range of tile materials and designs to choose from how to choose grout color 2! To go as unique or as traditional as you please beautiful editor a caulk that matches the sheet. Sheet home and look at the depth of your space by changing the color sheet home look. According to our to grout color for each grout color, pay attention to the minute. Choice to the timeless black and white gray, there are vanilla beige... Free by whitelisting wikiHow on your personal tastes, it 's essential consider! “ My advice is to not leave your grout color can be annoying, but ’!, though, do n't pick your grout consider an epoxy grout you... Bold - High contrast a bad grout choice could end up ruining a good tile choice, she. High contrast 10 years of experience, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations are vanilla,,. To maintain the look of your bathroom or kitchen cleaning is what the without... According to our sure that you use with different tiles joints and changes of plane to hide your DIY,! Page was hand-picked by a House beautiful editor matching your how to choose grout color for porcelain can a... Otherwise boring tile really pop in a space. ” way your how to choose grout color is easiest to clean before start... Option provided by the manufacturer 's how to choose grout color of strategic color existing grout, more! Lines between your tiles, pick a shade of grout that you use with different tiles a mess under best! The less contrast we create between the tile and grout color options in your how to choose grout color! And crafting blog Dream Green DIY, has mastered the art of strategic color printed block of color each.