Alex Fisher
Have you ever heard the phrase “the devil is in the details” or “it’s the little things that matter”? A lot of people think white subway tile is ho-hum. Set designers try hard to create spaces that don’t scream a particular era, unless that’s what they are trying to show of course.” Plain subway tile can have many different looks, and not all of them good, depending on the grout color. I personally caution people against using white grout, and I have my reasons: One of the main reasons white grout actually turns yellow is because of hard water.
Hard water wreaks havoc on not just your grout, but also on your appliances, and even on your skin and hair, but I digress. the case if you choose the whitest white tile you can get, you end up with the “yellow teeth” look.
Consider slightly wider grout lines, rather than keeping them close and tight.
If you prefer a soft look, choose a very pale gray grout.
My all-time favorite that I have in my own house, everywhere I have white subway tile, is Frost by Mapei. I never recommend that everything, or anything, be matchy-matchy, but I do believe that your grout should closely relate to your wall color and countertop.
Before choosing a white subway tile because you think that’s most classic, stop here and read the following points: What color wall paint looks great with Frost grout?
Try Benjamin Moore Paper White or Baby’s Breath. Tile manufacturers will specify the application location in the product description. Hopefully your wall color coordinates and compliments your floor tile. For in-depth information on grout lines, check out this excellent resource.
Remember, grout lines can emphasize features and really draw them out. Look at the difference between a classic hex tile with white, black, and gray grout colors.
You definitely do not want to emphasize your grout line if you want your tile to look like a wood floor.
You should also reseal your grout periodically, about every six to eight months in heavily used areas like your shower, and once a year or so for other surfaces. Finally, use gentle dish soap and warm water to clean wall tile and grout, and a basin, tub, and tile cleaner for showers. If you notice soap scum or mold or mildew, remove those as soon as possible with any of the commercially available products.
The key is to get that buildup off before it becomes a problem and clean your tile and grout frequently. I keep a little Pampered Chef plastic scraper handy to gently scrape around the tiles to remove any leftover build-up. We hope you found our tile and grout information helpful.
Should you require further assistance choosing your grout, tile, hard surfaces, and paint colors, please consider contacting us for a professional consultation.
