The Grout Color Your Kitchen Subway Tile Needs

It has been a staple for kitchen backsplashes since the turn of the 20th century, and for good reason. White subway tile is a simple and clean design choice that works for multiple styles. But what really makes or breaks that classic tile choice? The grout color. Choosing the right grout color for your tile can really affect the overall feel of your kitchen. And if you're thinking white is your best bet, designers want you to think again.

Gray grout is the color your backsplash actually needs. It's stylish, makes your tiles pop, hides dirt, and gives your kitchen backsplash a more polished look. While white grout on subway tiles is the usual go-to, black tends to be a little too dramatic for some, making gray the perfect middle ground. Gray is the best of both worlds because it isn't as stark as black against white subway tiles, yet it hides daily splashes and spills, unlike white. It also offers design flexibility, whether your kitchen is farmhouse, modern, rustic, or transitional. Gray grout is also the perfect way to take a subway tiled backsplash and make it your own.

There are some key details you need to keep in mind if you are eyeing gray grout for your subway tile. A light gray creates a soft transition with the white tiles for a more subtle traditional feel. A mid-tone gray works to create a sharper division within the tiles and works well with a more modern design. If you're looking for something warmer, because you have natural textures in your kitchen, a soft taupe-gray is the perfect choice. Another wonderful benefit of gray grout is that it supports the symmetry of the room and draws the eye through the space.

Before you apply your grout to your subway tile, it's a good idea to test a sample of it on an inconspicuous spot to see how it looks in the various lighting of your kitchen throughout the day. This will help you avoid surprises later, and you will be more confident in your decision to use gray grout with your white subway kitchen tile. Lighting can really change the tone of the grout — what looks like a soft gray in the morning sun can look much darker in the warm evening light. Plus testing it first will also give you the chance to see how well it cleans up off your tile surface and whether you'll need to seal your tiles before grouting. It's a quick step that will save you a lot of regret and unnecessary scrubbing down the road.