How to Choose the Right Grout for Your Tile

Once you’ve chosen the tile for your bathroom or kitchen, you might think that the hard part is over. After all, it is the color, size and pattern of the tile that has the biggest impact on the overall look of the room, right?

Actually, the color of the grout you choose for the tiles can also significantly change the look of the floor and the room itself. Even if you neglect your tile grout cleaning and the grout becomes discolored, you will notice a big difference in the look.

Here are a few tips for how to choose the right color grout for your Arizona tile:

Complementary Color

Most people choose a grout color that complements the color of the tile. Therefore, if you have a gray tile, you might choose a light grey grout. Or if you have a brown or earth-colored tile, you might choose a dark grey or tan grout.

Choose a complementary color for your grout can open up the room and make it look bigger. The grout seems to blend right into the tile, which removes those visual lines that break up the space. Choosing a complementary grout color is especially important if you are tiling a small room.
Just be careful when choosing light-colored grout for light-colored tile. The popular white-on-white combination, for example, is very hard to keep clean. Even with the recommended tile grout sealing, you’ll still have a bear of a time keeping the grout free of stains — especially for tile around your shower or on your backsplash.

Contrasting Color

For a bolder look, try a contrasting color for your tile.

Right now, one of the hottest combinations is black or dark grey grout against white tile. The subway look is retro and modern at the same time, and it fits in with a kitchen or bathroom layout.

Darker grout highlights the pattern of the tile, so consider using it when you have a specialty pattern like herringbone or chevron.

If you want to go even bolder, think about how colors like red or aqua would look against white tile. Or yellow grout against aqua tile.

You don’t have to go that bold to choose a contrasting grout color, but the ideas give you some food for thought. You might consider more colorful combinations like this for a mosaic design on your backsplash or your patio, or you might like these combinations for a children’s room or entertaining space.

Just be sure that you test out these colorful grout combinations before you settle on a choice. You can always remove grout and start from scratch, but it’s not an easy process. Go ahead and grout a few tiles on a piece of plywood to see what the design will look like. Give the grout a few days or a few weeks to cure since the color can change after the grout dries completely.

Highlight Color

Not all tile has a solid color. A lot of tile has marbling, veining or some other subtle pattern running through it. You can choose a grout color that highlights this aspect of the tile, creating a subtle accent that will improve the look of the layout.

Alternatively, you can choose a grout color that highlights nearby elements. For example, you may choose a grout color for your kitchen backsplash that matches the counter color or the cabinet color. The affect will be subtle, but it will make a big difference to the look of the room.

Talk with your contractor about the options for grout color, and consult a color wheel to find combinations that are aesthetically pleasing.

Once you have your tile installed, call Desert Tile and Grout Care for all your tile grout cleaning needs in Chandler Arizona. We offer tile and grout cleaning for all types of tile, ensuring that your floors and backsplashes look great for years to come. Our professional Chandler tile cleaning services will help you preserve the look of your home and will save you money on early replacement of tile or grout. We also offer tile grout sealing to minimize the recurrence of stains and other issues. Call us today to restore the look of your tile or grout!