How to Choose The Right Tile Grout Colour

If you’re thinking of adding or replacing a tile floor in your kitchen, bathroom, or anywhere in your home, you’re probably already aware that there are nearly infinite options available to create the perfect floor for your space. Today’s floor tile installation services can encompass a vast array of tile styles, sizes, colours, textures, and installation patterns.

With so many options, homeowners can easily spend hours trying to choose the perfect tile shape or pattern. One often-undervalued key step in planning your tile floor is selecting the right grout colour to pair with your chosen tile. However, grout colour isn’t something that you should treat as an afterthought.

Your grout choice can have an enormous impact on the overall look and feel of your tile floor, as well as how much time and effort you’ll need to invest in keeping your floor clean and looking its best. Below are some popular grout and tile combinations and tips for keeping them looking new.

Matching Grout and Tile

Using a grout colour that matches the colour of your floor tiles keeps attention on your tiles instead of on the grout. That said, matching tile and grout isn’t the best way to draw attention to your floor. A matching colour scheme works well when you want your walls or other design elements to be the focal point of the room.

White tile with white grout is likely the most popular floor tile pairing in today’s homes. This classic staple is versatile, timeless, and provides a fresh, clean look that appeals to many homeowners. Before selecting a light-on-light colour scheme, though, you should know that this combination requires a commitment to regular cleaning. White and other light grout colours typically show dirt and stains more prominently than darker grout colours.

Dark tile paired with a matching dark grout is another popular, versatile combination that works well with nearly any décor scheme. Compared to white-on-white, monochromatic dark flooring selections appear a bit more modern, upscale, and eye-catching.

Contrasting Grout and Tile

Use a grout colour that contrasts with your tile colour when you want to highlight your floor as a focal feature of the room. Because the high-contrast grout will call attention to the grout lines, take care when choosing your tile pattern. A contrasting colour scheme can be a great way to highlight diagonally placed tiles, for example, while complex tile patterns such as herringbone can easily overwhelm a space when paired with a contrasting colour scheme. Similarly, a contrasting grout colour may look amazing when used with larger tiles but can feel too busy when used with smaller tiles.

A dark or bold grout colour visually pops when paired with light-coloured tiles. Darker grout also hides stains or dirt better than lighter grout options. When pairing light tiles with a bold or deep grout shade, be aware that dark grout can potentially stain lighter tiles. Always use a sealer on the tiles before adding the grout to prevent staining. You can test the grout on a spare tile to confirm how many coats of sealer you need.

White or light-coloured grout with darker tiles is also visually striking. This combination requires the most diligent cleaning because light grout shows dirt easily and, because of the contrast, the eye will be drawn to any spots or stains.

Complementary Grout and Tile

Complementary colour schemes strike a good balance between monochromatic and high-contrast options. Some popular examples of complementary grout and tile pairings include light gray tile with white grout, blue tile with gray grout, or yellow tile with beige grout.

Find the Best Floor Tile Installation Services

Handyman Connection is among the premier providers of flooring services in Calgary. From design to installation to maintenance, we can help you achieve the tile floor of your dreams. Contact us to get started.