Strategies for Choosing Grout Colors

Dear Rob:

I just moved into a new house, and I’m really not happy with the grout used in the kitchen and bathrooms.  I’m not really confident that I can pick something better though.  Can you give me some pointers?

-Jeff in Utah

Dear Jeff:

This may not seem like an important decision worthy of spending any time on, but the color of your grout can change the look of the whole floor or wall. The whole process of choosing tile can be overwhelming. When it gets to the last little detail of choosing a grout color, it is tempting to just say – whatever. Hang in there and use this advice to get you through.

When you look at the grout chart, don’t worry that there are so many choices. Gather one or a few samples of your tile and place them on a neutral background. Then, choose 3-5 grout samples and space them around or in between the tiles. The goal is to choose the color that best matches or blends with the tile. Don’t worry if it doesn’t match exactly, the goal is for the color to coordinate and blend.

Next, step away from the samples and look at the pieces from several feet away. Let’s face it; rarely will your face be 6″-12″ from the floor. You will spend your time looking at the floor as a whole while standing up!

Look for the grout sample that disappears the most. You paid for the tile, not the grout. The tile is what you want to see when the floor is complete. Choosing a grout color that is contrasting will draw your eye to that difference and you will see the lines that separate each tile rather than one complete finished floor.

It is tempting to try to make grout more of a design element than it is. If you have a neutral tile and have second thoughts about it being too boring while convincing yourself that the grout color can pull everything in your design scheme together – WAIT! It rarely makes sense to use a colored grout on a neutral tile. Often, it is hard enough using a colored grout on a colored tile! Unless you are going for a checkerboard look or the lines around the tile to be a focal point, let the grout be grout and choose a neutral color.

If there is an edge color around the tile that is different from the center of the tile you have a choice to make. If you choose a grout color that best coordinates with the edge color, then the edging will be more pronounced. If you choose a grout color that coordinates with the color on the center of the tile, that edging will be minimized. There is no right or wrong answer here, just personal preference.

If you have a tile with multiple or mixed colors, follow the same steps. Place a few samples around and in between several tiles and step back to view them. Again, you are looking for the most neutral color that disappears. Start eliminating choices and your decision will become clear.

One exception worth mentioning is Saltillo tile or Mexican tile. This orangy terracotta tile typically does not follow the rules. Most installations of Saltillo tile have a neutral gray grout or black in some commercial applications.

Another consideration is maintenance. When choosing a neutral grout color there are often a few shades that will work well. In this case, keep maintenance in mind. Darker grout colors will hide dirt better than white or light colors. If maintenance is a concern, you can always seal the grout for added protection.

If you make a decision that you are unhappy with or buy a home where someone else made a poor decision, you have the option to stain the grout rather than removing the grout and starting over. Removing the grout runs the risk of chipping the tile.

Ask your retailer or designer for help if you are unsure what to choose. They have made these decisions many times and can take the stress out of the decision for you.

-Rob

Tile Layout Pattern Ideas To Give Your Room Style

Dear Rob:

I’m in the process of redesigning my kitchen, and I’m struggling a little bit with picking tile.  I really want my kitchen to be special and unique, but I’m drawing a blank as far as what to do with all the fun sizes and types of tile I’ve seen at the store.

Can you help me out with some layout ideas?

-Kim in Texas

Dear Kim:

One of the greatest things about tile is the ability to install it in so many different layouts, creating an almost endless number of possible looks. You can really let your creativity explode with all of the different sizes and styles of tile and accessories on the market today.  Below are some popular tile layouts. Remember that tile setting professionals in different areas may have different names for these layouts.

Basic

• Straight lay – any size laid square
• Diagonal – any size laid on a 45 degree angle
• Running bond – any size laid with the joints staggered in a brick pattern
• Checkerboard – any size tile with alternating colors

Intermediate

• Diagonal with dots – larger size tiles with smaller tiles placed in the joint intersections
• Area rug border or picture frame – in the center of an area, border tiles are used to outline the area to look like the border of an area rug or picture frame with a different tile in the center
• Diagonal running bond – any size laid with the joints staggered in a brick pattern and laid on the diagonal
• Modular – different size tiles are laid in a modular pattern such as using 4×4, 12×12 and 4×12

Complex

• Area rug border with inset – in the center of an area, border tiles are used to outline the area to look like the border of an area rug. The border tiles are laid straight while the center of the area is a pattern such as turned on the diagonal, diagonal with dots, or diagonal running bond.
• Herringbone – elongated shaped tiles installed in a herringbone pattern (example 3×6 or 6×12)
• Basket weave – elongated shaped tiles installed in a basketweave pattern (example 3×6 or 6×12)
• Pinwheel – tiles in corresponding sizes such as 12×12 and 4×4 where the smaller tile is laid straight in each of the 4 corners of the larger tile

Designs with Mosaics

• Used alone with no other size tiles on a wall or floor
• The center of an area with a border
• Used as the smaller tile in a basketweave pattern
• Used as the smaller tile in a pinwheel pattern
• Used as the dot in a diagonal with dots pattern
• Used as the smaller tile in a modular pattern
• Used as a feature strip in a tub or shower (one row installed about eye level)
• Used as the border in an area rug or picture frame installation
• Part of a border tile or listello

Important Notes

The more complicated the layout or pattern is, the more expensive a professional installation will be. This is due to the time it takes to layout a complicated pattern.  More cuts are usually involved and the whole job is more labor intensive.

Be sure to consult with your designer or tile installation professional about a pattern before purchasing the tile. Not all patterns will work in all spaces. Some spaces are too small or too irregularly shaped for some patterns.

Also, remember that not all tiles come in every size.  Be sure to check with your retailer about the available sizes before getting your heart set on a particular pattern. If you know you want a pattern before you begin shopping for tile, be sure and let your sales consultant know before you begin the selection process.

-Rob

Mixing Multiple Floor Coverings in Your Home

Dear Rob:

Is it acceptable to mix flooring types in the same home?

-Brenda in New Hampshire

Dear Brenda:

In short, absolutely!

Below are some guidelines to help you plan your flooring project. Keep in mind that these are guidelines and not set rules because each house and personal taste varies so much.

Mixing Hardwood

As a general rule, it is best to keep the hardwood on one floor of your home the same species and color. However, certain circumstances make it acceptable to change the species and color if the room is completely separated by a door.  It is also best to keep the hardwood in a home running the same direction unless a different room is completely separated by a door.

Keep in mind that if you use multiple woods on multiple levels or multiple woods on the same level you may lose some flow and continuity as well as any bulk purchasing discounts offered from the retailer.

Mixing Tile

Tile is the easiest product to mix in a home. You can have a common area tile that is the same while changing the tile in each bathroom. You can use the same tile in a common area and change sizes, styles or colors within that common area. You can also use one common tile throughout the areas with tile in the home mixing in different accents within those areas to define each room. With floor plans being more open and hard surfaces being used more throughout the home, more opportunities are available to mix tiles. All you need is a transition point or door to change tiles (style, direction or color).

Using different tiles in each area can give each room its own personality. If the tiles are intended to be more restful or a serve as a background than a focal point that is perfectly acceptable as well! A circumstance where you may want to consider using all of the same tile is if you have rooms with patterned wallpaper.

Mixing Carpet

Let’s say you have hardwood or tile in the common areas of your home. A great place to break up and change the flooring is by using carpet in the bedrooms. Because each bedroom has a door, you can choose different styles and colors for each bedroom to suit the décor of that room.

Another reason to mix carpet in a home is if the main carpet color chosen does not coordinate well with all of the other wall colors in the home.

Tile, carpet and hardwood all mix well with each other as well. From room to room each of these products can transition well to each other.

An idea to help you determine if you are mixing the right amount of floor coverings is to go back to kindergarten – and color. Create a drawing or make a copy of your floor plan and use different colors to outline each type of flooring. When coloring rooms with hardwood, draw lines indicating the direction the hardwood will be installed. When drawing tile, draw squares indicating the direction the tile will be installed. Also, use different colors for each different tile used. For carpet, color the rooms solid. This will help you determine the degree that your floors are either being used for a background or if they are going to be more of a focal point.

-Rob

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