This Unexpected Grout Color Is Better Than White for Subway Tile, Designers Say

When installing subway tile in your kitchen, there are a number of routes that you can go as it pertains to grout. While many people opt for a simple white, you may wish to think a bit outside the box and go with gray instead.

Below, experts discuss the merits of gray grout and highlight why they find it to be a strong choice to pair with subway tile. They also raise key considerations to keep top of mind when working with gray grout.

Keep reading so that you’ll be as informed as possible as you tackle your kitchen renovation.

Why You Should Choose Gray Grout for Subway Tile

Easy to Maintain

Experts appreciate pairing subway tile with gray grout because the color is more practical than lighter hues in terms of withstanding wear and tear.

“Light grout in a kitchen, particularly in high-traffic areas like a backsplash, can be challenging to keep clean and tends to show stains faster, and is harder to clean,” Alana Marie, the founder of Alana Marie Interiors, says.

Gray, on the other hand, is going to stand up to daily use much more successfully since it hides dirt better, requires less maintenance, and helps maintain a fresh, polished look for longer, Marie says.

Gray is also a nice choice for warming up your space and will result in a more dimensional look in the kitchen, Melissa Sakell, a kitchen and bath designer with Anthony Wilder Design/Build, adds.

It Won’t Go Out of Style

Additionally, when selecting a tile and grout combination, you’re going to want to opt for a look that will remain in vogue for years to come, given that kitchen renovations are time-consuming and costly. This is another reason why Sakell says gray is an excellent color to use for grout—it’s an extremely timeless hue that will complement any interior color scheme.

Best of all, the color gray will pair nicely with a wide range of kitchen design styles and comes in several different shades, making it easy to select one that suits your space. Try different shades with your subway tile before landing on one.

“Gray is a true chameleon; it can be warm or cool, barely there or almost black so you can really capture any look with it depending on the final shade you select,” Sakell says.

Keep in mind that while many people picture subway tile and think of its traditional white form, the tile comes in many different colors to suit a wide variety of spaces. Becky Shea, the founder and creative director of Becky Shea Design, landed on a stunning blue subway tile for a bathroom she designed and opted to incorporate gray grout.

“The soft gray tones in the grout really brought out the blues and grays throughout the room, creating a cohesive and balanced look without overpowering the space,” she says. “It’s those little choices that can make a big difference in pulling everything together.”

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Disadvantages of Gray Grout on Subway Tile

• Grays can be difficult to read. As Sakell notes, gray tones pull from other colors nearby them and therefore don’t seamlessly translate from one space to another. Sakell explains how to always look at the grout with the rest of the materials getting installed.
• Professional installation is essential. Adding gray grout to your kitchen isn’t something that you should view as a simple DIY project. Rather, now is an ideal time to bring in a professional to assist you to ensure that everything is installed to your liking. If you’re thinking of going with a darker shade, Sakell emphasizes the importance of making sure your installer is confident with the installation since any errors will be more apparent due to the high contrast combination.