White tiles are a classic, proven solution for any room. To prevent the design from looking bland, use white tiles with black grout; In the bathroom, as in the kitchen, this design looks especially impressive. Let's figure out why the black and white combination is interesting, how to apply it correctly, and what alternatives exist,
White subway tiles in bathroom design Source jumanji.livspace-cdn.com
Grout functions
In ceramic cladding, grout (or grout) is the same essential element as tiles. She is chosen simultaneously with the purchase of tiles, and the following tasks are assigned to her:
- Protection of tile joints and strengthening of masonry . Most types of grout absorb water and dirt to one degree or another, they also serve as a barrier between moisture and the glue on which the tile is held and preserve its structure from destruction.
- Maintaining hygiene . Grout is a barrier that prevents the development of mold on the seams.
Classic design of a small bathroom Source pinimg.com
- Masking defects . Using grout you can hide an unskilled seam or a small chip. The trick will only work if the grout was chosen to match the tile. In the case of contrasting combinations of materials, the master will need all his professionalism and accuracy.
- Changing the appearance of masonry . The greater the difference between the color of the ceramic and the fugue, the brighter the decorative effect will be and the more attention-grabbing the cladding will be. Dark grout looks especially bright on white tiles.
- Creating a Balanced Design . To make a bathroom or kitchen look complete, the color of the grout mixture is selected to match the tone of any element (for example, furniture).
Contrast gives space clarity Source alumdevelop.ru
Urban style bathroom design
Urban style is rapidly gaining popularity. Bathrooms are no exception. To create a room in this manner, materials are used predominantly in white. This is the main distinguishing feature of this direction. Dark colors are also used, but much less frequently.
When creating a design, you should adhere to rigor and minimalism
If the color is chosen incorrectly, you may get the impression of a reduced space. Therefore, if the size of the bathroom is quite modest, you should not settle for a dark option. White tiles, on the contrary, can create the illusion of increased space, but only if the lighting is properly organized.
How to process seams?
To mash, you will need a special rubber spatula. The algorithm of actions is presented in the following stages.
- At the beginning of work, it is necessary to prepare the working material. To do this, add a small amount of water to the purchased putty. After which the resulting substance should be mixed until a homogeneous mass appears. After a few minutes the mixture is ready for use.
- Before applying the paste between the slabs, you should make sure that there are no foreign substances in them. If you find remains of building materials or glue, they must be removed immediately. The putty is applied using a spatula to the space between the slabs. After this, using smoothing movements, the substance is pressed into the hollow space.
- Then you need to remove the excess paste remaining on the surface of the tile. For cleaning, it is convenient to use a foam sponge or cotton rag. Particular attention should be paid to removing traces of material when using a dark grout. Otherwise, it will harden, and unaesthetic stains will remain on the surface of the light tile. Therefore, any remaining material must be removed as soon as possible.
Grouting tiles should be done following the manufacturer's recommendations.
After the putty has dried, you need to check the quality of the resulting seams. At the end of work, it is advisable to ventilate the room.
Types of grout
Color is not the only indicator by which a grout mixture is selected. Manufacturers offer several types of materials, and their features also need to be taken into account. All of them perform a protective and decorative function, but they manifest themselves differently in operation. The seams on the tiles are grouted using the following compounds:
- Based on cement mixtures . A grout consisting of cement and additives (for example, liquid latex) is suitable for sealing joints with a thickness of 1-5 mm; it is elastic and dries quickly. A mixture with added sand is intended for wider joints. It can be white or gray, different compositions vary in grain size.
Large format tiles with contrasting seams Source thespruce.com
- Epoxy mixtures . The composition includes epoxy resin, coloring pigment and hardener, which makes the coating dense, moisture-resistant and, importantly, resistant to household chemicals and ultraviolet radiation. Grout is used for wide (more than 6 mm) joints. Mixtures with the addition of cement are produced; their properties lack chemical stability.
- Silicone . Silicone-based materials are elastic and do not shrink after drying. However, it is better to use them as an additive, since their main property is that they are sealants that protect the base from water. They are not cheap and are suitable for use in wide joints.
Using ceramics of different shapes Source pinimg.com
Pros and cons of dark seams
Contrasting combinations of tiles and fugues are an expressive means of interior design. Before choosing one or another combination, it is useful to get acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of dark-colored seams. Black seams on a white background have the following advantages:
- They attract attention to the decoration, set the mood for the design, and look appropriate in many modern styles (for example, Scandinavian).
- They give the walls a presentable, more austere look. They always look neat and elegant.
Design in Scandinavian style Source pinimg.com
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in finishing materials and related work
- In many interiors, contrasting design looks unexpected and therefore original.
The white and black finish has the following disadvantages:
- It will not fit into every interior.
- Although light materials have the ability to visually enlarge a space, the combination may seem overly gloomy.
- If there are errors in the cladding, they will not go unnoticed.
Multi-format tiles are united by grout color Source pinimg.com
What is a hog tile
The tile is an elongated rectangle. It looks like a brick. Can be flat or voluminous. In European countries, it is often used to decorate walls in the subway. Therefore, the name “metro” may also appear.
The ceramics got its name “hog” due to two holes on the edge that resemble a snout. These holes are needed to transport the material. And if necessary, they make it easier to cut the tiles into two parts.
How to choose a color combination
White tiles are a versatile material that never goes out of style. If it seems boring, you can diversify and complicate the design by grouting. Whatever color of grout you choose, the background white color will not conflict with it. When choosing a grout shade for white tiles, it is useful to take into account the following notes:
- The contrasting combination, white tiles with black joints, fits into modern styles: Scandinavian, loft, modern. It is suitable for interiors that emphasize graphics, for example, pop art or eclecticism, for minimalist design.
Accent wall in the shower Source pinimg.com
- There are also restrictions on the choice of ceramics. A plain white material is ideal, but it may have a relief or a faded, as if faded, print. If the pattern is more saturated, the combination with contrasting seams will seem sloppy, loading the space.
- The emphasis on the tiles can be made using grout in gray shades, which combines well with almost all ornaments, patterns and prints.
- If it is necessary to emphasize the situation, choose white (sometimes light gray) grout. If you need to draw attention to the walls, the grout is made as dark or black as possible; it’s good if it matches the shade of the floor covering.
Light gray seams do not distract attention from the design Source tesser.ru
Other color options
Have you noticed that white tile joints are rarely done in pastel colors? For example, beige, light gray, cream.
This is due to the fact that such shades with little contrast to white from a distance will simply look like dirty stripes. The kitchen will become untidy and uncomfortable.
That is why three types of grout are most often used with white tiles:
Designers allow the use of brighter colors to seal joints. But at the same time they warn that this is a bold step, and over time the seams may begin to become an eyesore. At the same time, brightness simply requires ideal masonry, as it highlights all the flaws and flaws.
Of course, the choice of a bright tone should be based on the colors that are already in the interior. At the same time, this will balance the design, give it cheerfulness and a bit of carelessness.
When choosing a dark grout for white tiles, the bias is primarily towards practicality. If aesthetics are important, then when choosing light colors for sealing joints, several nuances must be taken into account.
Recommendations for using colors in the interior
It is customary to make tile seams in cladding of any color (not just white) either as contrasting as possible, or to match the tile. Black grout color is chosen if there are other black elements in the room (for example, a black floor in the bathroom or a black countertop in the kitchen).
Shades of gray have a softer effect on perception, they are more neutral and therefore multifunctional. Gray grout does not require the additional presence of gray in the interior. But, if it is duplicated, the design will look more elegant.
Gray fugue on a kitchen apron Source amazon.com
Most often, tiles can be found on the walls and floor of the bathroom or on the walls of the kitchen (often this is a “hog” in the finishing of the apron). But, for example, a bar counter made of white mosaic with black grout also looks beautiful. This detail fits organically into a modern interior.
Existing combinations of white and black (or gray) are used to achieve a specific aesthetic result. The combination of white tiles with white grout is used in the following cases:
- If the bathroom is small and you want to make it look larger.
Design with patchwork style details Source art-oboi.com.ua
Features of working with boar tiles
- Tiles must be purchased with a margin of 7-10%. The consumption of such finishing material is higher when placed offset. Some of the hogs will be cut up. Remains can be used to replace damaged items.
- The wall must be level. Therefore, before laying the tiles, carefully putty and plaster the surface. Use a laser level and beacons. For better adhesion, it is necessary to treat the surface with a primer.
- Hog tiles are thicker than regular tiles, so tile adhesive will be required by 20-30 percent more. They need to lubricate both the wall and each element of the apron.
- Since preference is most often given to contrasting grout, the seams must be made perfectly and be up to 5 mm. Otherwise, the apron will look sloppy.
If the choice fell on volumetric tiles, you should pay special attention when installing sockets. Their edges should not overlap the chamfer. Otherwise, unsightly gaps will form.
Briefly about the main thing
The choice of grout plays an important decorative role in creating the design of a kitchen or bathroom. Its color affects the perception of the tile, which is especially true for white tiles. There are different types of grout mixture, and their characteristics must be taken into account when choosing a material.
In the design of the bathroom and kitchen, combinations of white tiles with white, gray and black grout are used. Most often, the seams are made white; This is a classic, proven and attractive option. Gray joints will help soften the tile pattern or emphasize the original layout. The contrasting white and black option is difficult to ignore; it is used to create an accent in some styles.
Hog tile sizes
Standard sizes for this type of tile range from 120 mm by 65 mm to 250 mm to 100 mm.
In this case, you can find other forms:
- 100 by 200 mm;
- 150 by 300 mm;
- 75 by 300 mm;
- 75 by 15 mm.
The choice of size depends only on the desired final picture and the customer’s preferences.
