As with any major permanent decision concerning your home renovation or addition, choosing the perfect grout for your tile can be a tough call to make. Whether it’s for your tile floor or a kitchen backsplash, the grout color can impact the overall look and feel of your initial tile. We’re sharing a few tips to help you choose the perfect tile grout color for your home to ease your anxiety.

WHAT IS GROUT?

Tiles are the glass, stone, or ceramic pieces that make up the majority of your floor or backsplash that are laid out in a grid or mosaic pattern. However, the space between the tiles is filled with a paste-like substance called grout.

Grout is important as it acts as a sealer to protect against water. Tiles have to be placed apart to protect them from cracking in case they expand. Without grout, water can seep down into the cracks, causing major damage.

In addition to sealing and protecting tile, grout also serves a visible purpose. The grout color can either match the tile, complement it, or contrast. All three can drastically affect the look and feel of your tile selection.

STANDARD GROUT COLORS

It may not be surprising that the variety of grout colors pale in comparison to the variety of tile options to choose from. Grout can act as a contrasting color along tile borders. The most common grout colors are black and white. However, other popular selections include gray, brown, beige, and shades of earthy greens. Depending on the look you’re going for, any of these options would likely work.

HOW TO SELECT THE PERFECT GROUT COLOR

Choosing a grout color isn’t always the easiest of decisions to make. Perhaps it’s because you have to see it done to really know whether you’ll like it or not. For those who have trouble visualizing the look they want, here are a few tips to help.

Size of the Room: Surprisingly, grout can affect how big or small a room feels. If you choose a complimenting or matching grout color, it’ll give an illusion of a larger room. However, a contrasting color could make the space feel more confined.

Pattern: Keep your tile design in mind when selecting a grout color. For a simple subway tile layout, a matching grout could make for a clean look. If your tile design is more complex, a contrasting color would likely be the best option to enhance the pattern.

Cleaning: Another thing to keep in mind is the maintenance of the grout and the ability to show dirt and grime. Even though it may be more challenging at first, darker grout will show less dirt than lighter grout colors. Grout sits slightly below the tile, which means it takes a little more effort to scrub clean. For high-traffic areas of the home, it might be wise to select a darker option.

Stains: Because some tiles can be porous, darker grout can stain the tiles during installation. To avoid this, apply a sealant to the tile before applying grout.

Color Variation: It’s not uncommon for grout to dry a slightly different shade than what’s expected, making the room’s overall look not exactly what you were expecting. Some products can help recolor your grout to get it closer to the desired look if this happens. However, most products can make grout darker, not lighter.

If you’re ready for new tile flooring or a backsplash, please give us a call at 409-932-2843 or contact us through our website for other flooring and tile inquiries. We also have financing available if needed.

If you’re looking for more inspiration, feel free to head on over to the flooring section of our website. Stay up to date on the latest and greatest news from Flooring Design Center by following us on Facebook and Instagram.