Have you ever completed a project, only to realize you HATE the color you chose? It’s such an awful feeling, isn’t it? Knowing all that hard work went to waste is enough to make me sick.
That’s what happened after our very first DIY project. Right after we bought our home, my hubby installed tile in our kitchen. Then after several days of hard labor he realized…
he hated the grout color!
In fact, he hated it so much he was ready to rip out the tile he just installed and start over!
This one was my fault and I felt so bad. I chose the dark grout color thinking it would be a good way to “hide” stains and spills. He wanted to go with a lighter color but let me make the final grout color choice.
He’s such a great guy for putting up with me and some of my not-so-good color choices!
That not-so-good grout color stayed for years. All the while my hubby grew to hate it more and I still felt bad we didn’t go with his choice.
Then we tried something on a whim and it worked!
For your convenience this post has affiliate links to a product I have personally tried and love! See my full disclosure here.
How To Change Grout Color For Less Than $20
Just look at the difference! The results were almost instantaneous and the best part is it cost LESS than $20!
All it took was a little work and time and now we finally we had the grout color we wanted! As soon as this easy project was done, we kicked ourselves for not doing it sooner.
Want to know the secret?
That huge change came from a little bottle of Grout Refresh
How does it work?
Grout Refresh is a product that you can apply to your existing grout lines to instantly change the color. It’s essentially paint for your grout. It comes in a variety of colors, all of which have great customer reviews. We used the Ivory color which was perfect for the look we wanted.
How do you apply it?
We found using an old toothbrush was the easiest and quickest way to apply Grout Refresh. We poured a little into a small cup and carefully “painted” all the grout lines with the toothbrush.
Make sure you have a wet cloth or baby wipes close by while you paint the grout. If any of the Grout Refresh gets on the tile surface, the wet cloth will make it super easy to clean up any mistakes you may make (like in this photo)
Was it easy to apply?
Yes it was easy but it did take some time. You won’t pay much out of your pocket but you will be “paying” a little more with your time. Plan to schedule at least a couple of hours to complete this project. You will probably end up on your knees applying the Grout Refresh, so getting a good pair of knee pads might be a good idea.
How much does one bottle cover?
We used one 8oz bottle in our 11.5 by 19 foot kitchen with grout lines less than a quarter inch wide and there was still half of the bottle left after the project. I would safely assume one bottle will be enough for most regular sized kitchens.
Does Grout Refresh hold up after cleaning?
I use a steam cleaner on my kitchen floor and the grout refresh holds up well. Even after leaving the steamer on the grout surface for a minute, the grout refresh still stayed intact. However, it may come off with harsh scrubbing. If that happens, a small touch up would be a good solution.
I had a reader ask what steam cleaner I use, so in case you’re wondering the same thing, this is the one I have. I’ve had good results with it. If you’re looking for something a little less expensive, this one is the #1 best seller in steam cleaners and has great reviews on Amazon.
How has it held up?
We used Grout Refresh about one year ago and it’s held up very well. We have two very active children that love to run around in the kitchen, so if it can hold up to the foot traffic in my kitchen, it will hold up in yours. There are a couple of small spots where the paint has come up, but a quick brush up will solve that problem in about 30 seconds.
Honestly, our only regret with this project is the fact that we didn’t do it sooner!
If you love DIY projects, make sure to check out our Budget Kitchen Makeover, How to Upgrade Cabinets on A Budget and Easy Wainscoting posts.
This DIY project was shared at: The DIY Collective, Inspiration Monday, Weekend Wind Down and Project Inspire(d).
Great information! I have been looking for a solution for our ugly grout. I have the same color tile as you do; can you save me some time and share what color grout refresh you used?
Hi Stacey! We also hated the color of our tile grout & this was a lifesaver! We used this grout refresh in ivory – the color complimented our tile perfectly. I hope that helps!
Oh My goodness…this comes at the perfect time, as I have terrible stains in the grout in our bathroom and I had no idea what to do about it. Grabbing a bottle of this stuff TODAY.
Thanks for sharing on Project Inspire!
This is the perfect solution for grout stains! It should make a big difference for your bathroom. I’m so glad to hear this was helpful–thanks for letting me know Natalie!
Hi Carrie – wow, I’m so excited to find you post at Project Inspired, because I totally want to change the grout color in my kitchen. I had no idea there was a product to do this!!! Thanks so much for sharing and pinned! Hope you have a happy week!
I was so elated when my hubby discovered this. It’s such an easy way to change grout color! Keep in touch and let me know how it goes!
This looks great! What steam cleaner do you use?
Thanks Christi! Steam cleaners are a great way to get the floors clean without using harsh chemicals. (aff links) This is the steam cleaner I use and I’ve had good results with it. If you’re looking for something a little less expensive, this one is the #1 best seller in steam cleaners and has great reviews on Amazon. Let me know if you have any other questions & I hope that helps Christi!
What a simple idea! We have white grout with white tile in our bathroom, but over the years, the grout has yellowed, which makes it look dirty. I imagine it would take a while to paint all the grout, but it would make a huge difference!
This would be a great solution to yellowed grout! You’re right–it would take some time but I think it will be worth it for that freshened up look!
Oh that’ a great solution carrie! I should do this too ❤
I’m glad you found this helpful Lily! Let me know how it turns out!
This is such a great idea. Your kitchen is gorgeous! If people only understood how easy DIY can be… and it doesn’t have to break the bank either! This was a great project.
Yes, yes yes! DIY projects don’t have to be overwhelming and can save so much money! We did lots of fun projects one at a time and they really helped us fall in love with our once ugly kitchen. So glad you enjoyed it Val!