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9 Ways Grout–Yes, Grout–Can Add to Your Design

Choose From a Palette of Grout Colors for a Warm, Unified Look

Paul Anater

http://www.kitchenandresidentialdesign.com

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Though it's often an afterthought, grout plays a big role in how a tile wall, counter or floor will look. Traditionally, the grout used on tile indoors has been white. White grout's notoriously difficult to keep white in the first place, and there are times when you may not want the stark brightness of white grout setting the tone for your project.

Grouts come in a seemingly endless number of colors, and you can even blend your own custom color with little difficulty. Before making a grout decision, ask your tile setter to see a sample palette of grout colors. You'll notice right away that different colors alter how a finished tile project looks—sometimes significantly.

Buy extra tile and have your tile setter mock up some samples using your tile and the grout colors you like. The best way to visualize how something will look is to get a live sample. This won't be free, but the peace of mind is worth every penny. Here are 10 ways designers have used grout color in kitchens and baths:

by Jason Ball Interiors, LLC

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The Calacatta marble that makes this wall so stunning has streaks of brownish gold in it. In an homage to practicality, the designer paired it with white tile around the fixtures. The tile will keep this shower looking brand new for years and the brownish-gold grout color makes the tile look like an aesthetic choice instead of a practical one.

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by Harrell Remodeling

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This bathroom features at least four kinds of tile, and they are all drawn together into a cohesive whole by a not-quite-green-not-quite-gray grout. By avoiding extreme color changes, this bathroom is kept a peaceful and calming space.

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by Sylvia Martin

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There are at least six kinds of marble tile at work in this bathroom, seven if you count the lavatory counter. To help these different types and colors of tile work together better, the designer unified everything with a grout color. If you look at the gray border on the floor you can see that the grout colors just a bit lighter than the darkest color tile. If you look at the white field tile on the wall you can see that the grout color's also a little darker than the lightest color. The grout color picks a happy medium and pulls this whole bathroom together with effortless grace.

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by Rebekah Zaveloff

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White kitchens need some gentle color to keep them from appearing to be too sterile. The darker grout color used with this tile eases the transitions between the darker woodwork, appliances and light fixtures. This white kitchen looks more welcoming and that's partially as a result of the grout color used on the walls.

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by Busybee Design

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This bathroom uses a light, buff-colored grout. That slight off white grout colors allows the green tile to blend into the painted walls better.

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by Rebekah Zaveloff

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Using a colored grout on the far wall of this kitchen pulls in the stain color form the oak cabinetry, floor and molding and makes for a more cohesive design. By breaking up the white tile with colored grout, this designer keeps the range wall from coming across as a monolithic white wall.

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by Rebekah Zaveloff

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Light walls cabinets paired with dark base cabinets are very now and making transitions between the two can be tricky. By going grey, the grout makes the transition a painless one and it relates directly to the light grey paint color on the wall.

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by Rebekah Zaveloff

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All white color schemes can come across as looking clinical, white tile walls particularly. Using a darker-colored grout here adds instant warmth and humanity and makes this laundry area a space that looks like someone uses it.

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by Northlight Architects LLC

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Pebble tile always presents a challenge because it needs to have so much grout used with it. The wall in this bath uses a chocolate-y grout that's nearly the color of the pebble tile itself. The result is a wall that's almost pure texture and the affect is fantastic.

What do you think? Do you have a grout color triumph or dilemma you'd like to share?

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Comments

Jason Ball Interiors, LLC says:

Thanks Paul for noticing the smallest of details. We used the grout color to do exactly what you said - tie the marble to the white tile. It's all in the details!

17 months ago · Like

Paul Anater says:

Jason you're brilliant, I love that shower!

17 months ago · Like

ds design studio says:

Paul, thanks for introducing a great topic. I'm glad you stressed the importance of making mock ups of tile with the grout you're considering. I learned the hard way!

I wanted to share that many companies offer caulking to match their grout colors.

17 months ago · Like

Scott Haig, CKD says:

Thanks Paul for adding some...um, color to the discussion...I often look for good ways to integrate the grout in baths or kitchen backsplashes and here you've shown ways to look at the room's palette for cues on a direction to take it.

Also, as debbie mentioned above, I try to get the matching caulk for corners (in the shower or where a backsplash meets the wall) to minimize cracking after the grout dries.

17 months ago · Like

Paul Anater says:

Debbie: Thanks for the thanks! Those mock ups are worth their weight in gold, I'm telling you.

Scott: Integrating everything's the key and Jason shower up there is one of the best integrations I've ever seen. That shower inspired this whole IdeaBook.

17 months ago · Like

Rebekah Zaveloff says:

Paul, Jason - love that shower detail! Paul, thanks for including some of our work!

17 months ago · Like

Paul Anater says:

This IdeaBook wouldn't have been possible without you Rebekah, thanks for doing such spectacular work and keeping so much of it on Houzz.

17 months ago · Like

jacquelyndavis says:

The extra cost of 100% epoxy grout is worth every penny. It is stain, mold, mildew, heat and shrink resistant. It does not require sealing every one to three years as cementitous grout does. Added expense is about what you would pay to have your grout resealed one time.

17 months ago · Like

centrd says:

Great tip about doing a mock-up first. Going to remember that next time around. While some of these examples work, for the most part I don't like darker grout with white tile. It simply looks dirty, not to mention it creates a choppy/busy look.

17 months ago · Like

Paul Anater says:

And sometimes, a graphic appearance is exactly what you want. I'm not encouraging people to use dark grout here. Rather, all I want people to do is think about how grout colors change the appearance of a tile installation.

17 months ago · Like

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