Beauty, as we know, lies in simplicity. Simple things are also good because they don’t get boring, don’t lose their relevance and are easy to combine. All of the above is true for white tiles. A simple white finish is classic, solid and very versatile. White tiles will never go out of style. If the interior gets boring, you can always revive and diversify it with colored or neutral decor. The white background color will not conflict with it.
In connection with white tiles, the question of grout color often arises. Should it be pure white or can it be colored? Is it permissible to use dark compounds?
Let's start with the fact that the seams are usually made either in the color of the tiles, or in maximum contrast. This applies to any tile, not just white.
Tone-on-tone seams
Contrast seams
Highly contrasting means not being slightly different, but clearly standing out. It is not customary to grout the seams of white tiles with pale gray, cream, or beige compounds. Why? It's simple: if the contrast is minimal, the seams will appear dirty, making the surface look rather untidy.
So, the most common three grout options for white tiles are:
Tone on tone with tiles; - gray; - black.
The use of bright colored grout is also possible. But this is a rather bold decision, and not for everyone. The colored seams are too conspicuous. They make any styling errors and manifestations of asymmetry noticeable.
Of course, the choice of colored grout must be dictated by something. Tile seams on the wall can repeat the color of porcelain stoneware floor tiles, paint, furniture elements, etc.
It is worth admitting that sometimes it looks quite interesting due to some playfulness and frivolity.
However, we started the article by talking about how simple (that is, natural, modest and unpretentious) things do not get boring for a long time. White tiles with colored joints are not one of these. When making repairs for many years, try to give preference to more traditional and universal solutions.
How to choose the right grout for tiles. Designer tips
The color of the grout is not as easy to choose as it seems at first glance; we usually decide this nuance with clients during the designer’s supervision. In my current project in the Rublevskoe Suburb residential complex, I had to get palettes of grout samples from several manufacturers to find the right tone. Initially, I only had one palette of one very common brand of grout. And it didn’t match the tiles chosen by the clients. Who would have thought that such a prosaic thing as cement grout could differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.
When contrasting grout spoils your bathroom
If you are conducting an experiment “How to ruin a bathroom during renovation, if it is almost ready,” I suggest you feel free to grab any combination of colored tiles + a completely different color of grout. For example, yellow tiles and blue grout. Or blue tiles and red grout. This technique is especially loved by those who saved a lot on tiles. That is, they didn’t just buy it cheap, but right at 500 rubles per square meter. Probably the logic is that grout will distract from the material.
Photo source: Yandex Images
This technique is especially often used with white square tiles. That is, at first the owners did not want a colored bathroom, but they laid the tiles and saw that it looked like in a hospital. We decided to “revive” it with grout.
Photo source: pinterest.ru
Dark tiles and white grout
This was the worst option. White grout looks much lighter in combination with bright colors.
Photo source: pinterest.ru
Here the grout emphasizes... Something. Exquisite tile geometry?
