How to Choose the Right Grout Colour

What is Grout?

In the simplest terms, grout is a thick material that is used to fill the gaps between tiles. Often made up of water, cement and sand, grout can also seal joints and reinforce structures.

Choosing the Right Grout Colour: Things to Consider

In order to make sure you select the right grout colour for your tiles, here are few things you should consider:

The type of look you want to achieve

If you want a seamless and cohesive look that is modern and sophisticated, you can choose grout that matches your tile colour. This will help you create a clean and elegant look.

Choose contrasting or striking grout colour if you want to bring attention to individual tiles, their shapes and patterns. This type of grout colouring works really well for decorative tile layouts and intricate designs like herringbone, chevron or Moroccan style tiles.

Neutral tones, such as greys or beiges, are versatile and balance both matching and contrasting effects. They’re ideal for designs where neither the tiles nor the grout should dominate.

Similarly, light coloured grout creates a soft, airy, open and bright feel. Dark coloured grout, on the other hand, is ideal for bold and dramatic designs or masculine spaces.   

Size of the tiles you are using

It can look overwhelming and noisy if you use strong colours for small tiles. Tiles like mosaics and penny rounds already have busy patterns, so for smaller tiles or decorative tiles you should use matching grout colour.

Large format tiles on the other hand can benefit with contrasts. Using contrasting grout on these tiles can highlight the edges and add depth.

The level of maintenance you can handle

It might sound quite obvious but it is wise to use light grout in areas where the risk of staining is minimal, such as backsplashes or low traffic walls. You can choose darker tones in places that experience high wear and tear.

Neutral grout colours like sand, taupe, beige and or light gray are some of the easiest colour tones to keep clean.

Location of the tiles

Whether you are using your tiles in hallways, bathrooms, bedroom or kitchen makes a difference when choosing your grout colour.

Light gray colours are a good choice for bathrooms as they look clean while still hiding the stains. For bedrooms, lighter colours can create a more inviting and soft atmosphere.

Kitchens tend to be a place that experiences heavy foot traffic and spill or stains. So, using neutral colours is the best idea for this part of the house.

Hallways are also one of the areas where foot traffic is quite high. But since the area is less prone to water and spill, you can go for the darker colours like black or charcoal.

Type of grout

There are several types of grout. The most common ones are:

Sanded grout: Highly durable grout that is commonly used in floors. Contains fine sand particles for strength and resistance to cracking.

Unsanded grout: Has a smoother finish, does not contain sand but isn’t very durable and is prone to shrinkage.

Epoxy grout: Made from a combination of epoxy resins and a hardener, offering a non-porous and durable finish. Highly resistant to stains, water, mold and discolouration.

Furan grout: Made from polymers containing furan resin and fortified with additives. Does not contain water, making it extremely resistant to chemicals, heat and stains.

Acrylic grout: Good for areas with minor movement or vibration, such as walls or outdoor applications.

High performance grout: Combines characteristics of cementitious and epoxy grouts, offering enhanced durability and stain resistance.

When you understand the nature of each type of grout, you can also get a good understanding about their maintenance needs, water absorption rates, ability to resist stains, type of finish, rate of discolouration and everything else. This knowledge helps you choose a grout colour that is practical as well as visually appealing.