The Best Mapei Grout Colors (Designer Tile Pairings & Advice)
Having just finished grouting one wall of our basement kitchen, I’ve had tiling on my mind. Sharing that process has also resulted in quite a few questions in which I can definitely offer some designer advice! I’ve tiled & grouted 7 bathrooms, 4 kitchens, and plenty of floors (not including selection for client projects), and the grout I always end up buying is Mapei. They have the most color options, and their Flexcolor grout is premixed (easy!), stain resistant, doesn’t crack, works for all projects (indoors & out), and most importantly- it doesn’t need sealed. No, this post isn’t sponsored, I just always use their grout because it’s the best. I have the Mapei designer swatches, so I wanted to share some winning tile & grout color combinations with you. Click through for my best grout color guidance…
Five years ago, I shared how we choose grout for tile, and that process has not changed. If you’re looking for the specs (sanded vs unsanded, calculating how much you need, what grout to choose for the tile material, etc) go read that post first! Choosing color comes next…
In my most recent basement kitchen renovation update, I shared the tile we picked in the design plan. It’s actually a less expensive version of the tile we have in our main kitchen… here’s a side-by-side comparison. We installed and grouted the tile last week, and it’s looking really good! I opted for a lighter grout color alongside the white handmade subway tile, which looks very timeless and neutral. Many of you sent questions about grout colors, and I wanted to give you some really good, intentional, well-designed pairings… taking the guess work out of tile / grout combinations. I hope this post is helpful!
What Type of Mapei Grout?
We’ve used all of their products, which are wonderful- but the easiest is Flexcolor. It comes premixed, the colors are super accurate, it’s stain resistant, crack resistant, can be used indoors & out, and it doesn’t need sealed. It really speeds up the process, is low maintenance, and easy to clean. They also have corresponding grout caulk colors, which is wonderful because I like everything to match. Another time saver is using MusselBound in place of mortar or thinset… think of a super sticky (mess free) adhesive mat in which you set or install your tile. Once it’s in place, you’re ready to grout. Those two products have been a game changer over the years.
11 Grout Color Selection Tips
My best tips for choosing a color? Here are some things to consider…
- Pull a color within the same family. What hues are naturally found within the tile? Grab some of those to try first.
- Consider the color temperature. Color temperature means warm versus cool… stick to the temperature of the tile when making grout selections. For example, a cool gray tile looks best with a cooler grout color. A warmer tile looks best paired alongside a warm colored grout. They should feel cohesive.
- Determine if you’d like your pattern to be more prevalent or more subtle. A high contrast grout will make the tile pattern much more evident, striking, or busy. Determine how much visual interest you are going for. A monochromatic grout that has the same value as the tile will have a softer, subtle look. A high contrast grout (like charcoal colored grout against white subway tile) will look highly patterned.
- Consider the scale of your tile. A larger tile will have less grout lines, while a small mosaic will have much more. The more grout, the more important the color selection because it will be more obvious.
- Consider cleanability. Medium to darker grouts hide dirt and wear much better than brighter and lighter options. Do consider durability and cleanability when making color selections.
- Keep function and location in mind. Are you choosing grout for a kitchen backsplash? You would want to consider food splashing and ease of cleaning… where a medium to dark color may be more appropriate.
- Consider joint size. Is your tile on a shower floor? You may want to consider a larger grout joint or mosaic tile for more grout traction, which means more of the color would be visible.
- Keep the emphasis on the tile. Tile will always be prettier than grout… it’s the star of the show. I prefer smaller grout joints and monochromatic colors for that very reason. It should complement the tile, rather than steal the show.
- Swatch your top contenders. co (natural light and in space
- When in doubt, monochromatic never goes out of style. copy
- Bonus… Craftsmanship influences grout selection. There is nothing more noticeable than a high contrast grout on poor tile installation. If you’re not confident in your skills or your tile contractor, choose a monochromatic grout color that easily blends with the tile to mask imperfections.
One more piece of advice? See if you can get your hands on actual swatches or look at them in person at your closest home improvement store! The Mapei pamphlet isn’t as accurate…
Best Grout Colors for Marble Tile
Now for the fun part- I pulled out my swatches and put together some real-life pairings for you.
If you’re struggling to choose a color, I highly recommend these colors for white or Carrara marble tile. This entire color family is classic, keeps the emphasis on the beautiful marble, will wear nicely, and withstand the test of time, from an aesthetic point of view. See the corresponding colors names for the above image below…
Best Grout Colors for White Tile
White tile typically needs a subtle contrast, at a minimum… even if just a tonal difference. These are my favorite warm residential hues for white subway tile or handmade tile. The really cool tones can feel too clinical paired alongside bright white tile. See the corresponding colors names for the above image below…
Best Grout Colors for Limestone Tile
Our entryway tile happens to be natural (tumbled) limestone, and I love the monochromatic grout I paired alongside it. The tile is so lovely on its own, I didn’t want to detract from it or the nero marble accent tiles. Sometimes keeping things monochromatic is the best option, which occurred in this scenario. I like all of these grout colors for limestone! See the corresponding colors names for the above image below…
Best Grout Colors for Gray Tile
Gray colored tile can skew warm or cool. This happens to be my kitchen tile, that leans to the warmer side. These grout colors are adaptable for both warm and cool, depending on which tile they’re paired alongside. See the corresponding colors names for the above image below…
Classic Mapei Grout Colors
I also pulled together some of Mapei’s most popular colors that are readily available. All of these have my stamp of approval…
FAQ
In natural light, as well as in the space in which the tile will live. I also find it easiest to place the grout swatch in between two tiles. The final step is to look at the pairing ON the intended surface. Don’t look at the tile on the floor if it will live on the wall… that can make a big difference in how the light reflects and interacts with it.
I loved that kitchen, too! This kitchen reno update post I shared gives a closer look at the floor tile (I had just finished installing it) and links the source, but sadly- I believe it has since been discontinued. The grout color was Mapei Pecan.
Those are for trade members (designers, architects, builders, etc), but you can see them in person at your local hardware stores (like Lowe’s)– or you can visit tile & stone retailers who have floating swatches… oftentimes, they’ll let you bring some home or rent them out (even if you’re not a trade member). It’s always worth asking!
Related Posts
Looking for more tile, grout, and stone posts? Here are some more you may find helpful for your renovation…
- Our Entryway Tile + Alternative Options
- DIY Heated Floor Tile
- How to Choose a Marble Slab for Your Renovation
- Our Basement Bathroom
- My Favorite Affordable & Classic Backsplash Tile Options
- How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic, Not Basic
- How to Install Floor Tile
- 10 Tile Projects & Tutorials From the Past
- Roundup : Classic Patterned Floor Tile from Lowe’s
- Our Guest Bathroom
- How to Install Mosaic Floor Tile + Marble Mosaics
- Roundup : Affordable Patterned Tile
- How to Select Different Countertop Edge Profiles
I hope this post was helpful! I’m happy to share more information or answer any questions in the comment section below. Be sure to pin these color names for later, too! You may want to revisit them for your next renovation project. I hope everyone’s week is off to a fantastic start!