Posted on Date 20th Dec 2023
How to use grout colour to complement your tiles
When it comes to decorating your home, you might have spent ages choosing the pattern, colour and style of your wall or floor tiles. But what about the grout? Believe it or not, there are many different grout types and colours available that can completely transform your tiling project.
Its all about choosing the right look and feel for your room. At Tile Warehouse, we've something for every design project whether you're creating a minimalist bathroom or a rustic-looking kitchen. So be sure to browse our range of grouts and read on for our best grouting tips.
Explore our guide below to learn how to use grout colour to complement tiling.
Underground Teal Tiles 10x30cm
Main ways to use grout colours
The great thing about tiling is it allows for an abundance of personalisation and the grout colour you choose will depend entirely on what you like and the look you want to achieve. From matching or neutral shades to contrasting colours that draw attention to intricate patterns and designs such as brick bond or herringbone, the choice is yours.
Before you start any kind of tiling project, its a good idea to flick through ideas online, browse the range of grout options available and come up with tile and grout colour schemes that could complement one another. Below are three of the main grouting options for inspiration.
Matching grout with your tiles
Homestonee Pearl Tiles 60 x 60cm
The first thing you can do is find a grout that matches your tiles. This helps to create a minimalist look because the grout lines simply fade into the background. As there's no clear grouting definition between each tile, matching grout wont emphasise the shape or pattern of each tile.
This is perfect for those interior spaces where simplicity is the key. For example, your wallpaper, carpet, curtains and furnishings might already look busy and therefore keeping things plain on the floor could work really well.
Also, if you're a landlord renting out a property, you might also opt for matching tile grout so that your colour scheme is not overly complicated. This makes it easy for tenants to furnish their new homes easily without having to worry about complicated colour combinations.
Contrasting grout against your tiles
If you're looking for a bolder, more eye-catching finish then opting for a grout that contrasts against your tiles is a great idea. Contrasting grout stands out and helps to highlight unique tile arrangements and interesting geometric shapes.
If you want to create a striking mosaic splashback in your kitchen, for instance, contrasting grout will really draw attention to each and every tile, making the design pop.
Similarly, if you're creating a herringbone feature wall with a neutral tile, you could make the pattern stand out with coloured grouting.
For instance, black grouting works well with a white tile and vice versa, helping to create a beautiful monochrome look. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing colour combinations, but it is a good idea to play around with colours to see which shades work well together. Why not order a grout stick sample when ordering sample tiles to see how the two complement each other in your home?
Neutral grout choices
If you want your tiling project to stay on-trend for years to come, then neutral grout choices are a great idea. Grouting colours such as white and light grey work well with almost any tile colour and will look stylish for many years to come.
Neutral grouts are also easier to clean as its easy to see when they're mucky. White vinegar combined with water is a natural cleaning product that'll keep your tiles spic-and-span. That said, neutral grouts do need to be cleaned regularly to ensure they stay looking as good as new.
Find out what colour grout to use with your tiles
With so many tile and grouting options to choose from, its natural to feel overwhelmed particularly if you're new to DIY or have never completed a tiling project before.
While your go-to might be white as this is a safe bet for most tiling choices, its well worth considering other options, just in case you find something you like more. With this in mind, here's our guide to matching specific tile colours to grout:
What colour grout to use with white tiles
White tiles are a great choice for minimalist, contemporary environments helping to keep your interior looking clean and fresh. You can opt for a matching white grout to ensure the grout lines aren't noticeable or select something slightly off-colour for a slight contrast.
Cream could work well here as could a light grey. Create a clear grouting definition by using colourful grouts or darker shades of black and brown.
What colour grout to use with grey tiles
Grey tiles are neutral in colour allowing for hassle-free integration into existing colour schemes. You can opt for light or dark grey grouting depending on the shade of your tile.
Match the colour of the tile with the grouting for a minimalist look or play around with tones for a more detailed grouting look. White grout also works well with grey, keeping things neutral while creating fresh, clear grouting lines that can be easily maintained.
What colour grout to use with beige tiles
Beige tiles team beautifully with cream grout. This looks particularly effective in rustic kitchen conversions and farmhouses. Beige tiles also look stunning when paired with brown grouting. As brown is darker than beige, clear grouting lines are created. Yet brown isn't as harsh as black or dark grey. White grout is also another option for beige tiles.
What colour grout to use with black tiles
When it comes to finding the right grout for black tiles, you can keep things simple by opting for black grout. The grout will blend with the tile for a uniform look. Or you could go the other extreme by filling the gaps between each tile with white grouting. For a slightly softer look opt for cream, light grey or beige.
What colour grout to use with cream tiles
Cream tiles can be paired with cream grout. Or you can use white to keep your colour scheme neutral without hiding the grouting lines.
Cream tiles also look lovely with brown grout. The earthy colours of this combination work well on the walls of country kitchens and conservatories and can be used to keep hallway floors decorative but minimalist at the same time.
What colour grout to use with blue tiles
If you want to revamp your bathroom, blue tiles with white or cream grouting are guaranteed to look modern, clean and fresh.
Blue and grey also go well together, with light blue and light grey offering a sophisticated touch to wet rooms. If there's a pattern you want to exaggerate, such as the honeycomb look, then black or dark grey grout will make each of the hexagons stand out.
What colour grout to use with green tiles
Green tiles are a wonderful choice for feature walls, borders, colourful splashbacks and more. The grout you choose will complete the look, with green and grey being a fun match for any home décor project.
White will keep things fresh, or you could colour-match the grout to the tile for a minimalist look. Dark green tiles paired with black grout results in subtle grout lines.
What colour grout to use with wood-effect tiles
If you want to maintain the rustic elegance of wood, then brown grout is ideal. It blends effortlessly with wood-effect tiles and wont create obvious lines. Wooden tiles look great in a herringbone pattern, however.
So, if you've opted for long, thin rectangular tiles and want to show off the pattern then choose a grout that's a few shades lighter or darker than your tiles. Cream grout, for instance, works well with oak effect tiles.
What grout colour to use with marble-effect tiles
Marble-effect tiles come in many different shapes, sizes, and colours. The latter could impact your grout choice specifically. For instance, if you want your white, marble-effect tiles to pop on their own, then white grouting could be the way to go as it wont distract from the tile itself.
If you have a grey marble-effect tile, then stick to light or dark grey depending on how distinctive you want the tile lines to be. Black is also an option. but it depends on how much of a statement you want to make.
Grout care
When it comes to maintaining the quality of your grout, be sure to use grout protectors. At Tile Warehouse, we stock a trade-quality grout protector spray called Fila Fugaproof which comes with a long-lasting finish. Its easy to use and prevents stains from developing on your grout lines for years to come. As a rule, always make sure spills and splashes are wiped up quickly to prevent grout discolouration. Alternatively, you can make natural grout cleaners. White vinegar mixed with water is one of the many solutions that'll break down grime.
Watch our video
If youre not sure how to grout help is at hand courtesy of Tile Warehouse and YouTuber Proper DIY. We've teamed up to show you the best way to grout your tiles at home.
Need more information?
If you have any questions regarding tiling in your home, then feel free to contact our Customer Services team here.
Further reading
If you would like to learn more about grouting tiles, then why not check out these related advice articles: