CRAMPED SPACES AND WEIRD TILE CHOICES—ANYONE ELSE?
Looked slick at first, but the tiles shifted a bit over time and it drove me nuts.
I totally get this. I tried to save a few bucks by picking up some clearance subway tiles for our tiny laundry closet. The guy at the store convinced me skinny grout lines would “look more modern,” and I figured, why not? Well, turns out, those tiles were just a hair off in size from each other. Didn’t notice until I was halfway up the wall and things started looking... wavy. Not in a cool way either.
I tried to nudge them back into place, but with such thin grout lines, there was zero wiggle room. Ended up with a couple of spots where the grout’s already cracking. My partner keeps saying “it adds character,” but honestly, it bugs me every time I’m folding towels in there.
If I could do it again, I’d go with wider spacers and maybe even splurge on those little leveling clips. It’s tempting to chase that magazine look, but unless you’re working with perfect tiles (and a lot of patience), it’s just not worth the stress. Especially when you’re trying to keep costs down—fixing mistakes gets expensive fast.
Funny thing is, my neighbor did her bathroom with those big hex tiles and thick grout lines. She said it hides all sorts of sins and still looks great after a couple years. Maybe there’s something to be said for forgiving materials when you’re working in tight spots or on a budget.
Anyway, you’re definitely not alone with the tile regrets. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, especially if you want to stay sane and not blow your whole reno fund on redoing one tiny room.
CRAMPED SPACES AND WEIRD TILE CHOICES—ANYONE ELSE?
That “magazine look” is always trickier than it seems, especially in small spaces. Honestly, even pros run into issues with tile sizing and grout lines—manufacturing tolerances can be all over the place, especially with clearance batches. Wider grout lines really do hide a lot, and those leveling clips are worth their weight in gold for keeping things lined up. In the end, most folks won’t notice the little imperfections, but I get how it can bug you every time you see it. Sometimes you just have to step back and remember it’s a laundry closet, not a showroom... easier said than done, though.
CRAMPED SPACES AND WEIRD TILE CHOICES—ANYONE ELSE?
I get where you're coming from, but honestly, I think narrow grout lines make a bigger difference in small spaces than people realize. I did a powder room with 1/16” grout lines and it looked way less busy than my last laundry closet with wider joints. Yeah, it’s trickier to lay them straight, but if you take your time and use those spacers, it pays off visually. Sometimes I think the “hide it with grout” approach just draws more attention to the lines instead of the tile. Just my two cents...
Honestly, I kinda lean the other way on grout lines—especially in older homes or places where the walls aren’t dead straight. Wider grout can actually help mask those little imperfections and makes DIY jobs way more forgiving. I get the appeal of tight joints, but after wrestling with uneven tile in a tiny bathroom, I’ll take a bit more grout and a lot less stress. Sometimes “busy” just means it looks finished, not cluttered.
Cramped Spaces And Weird Tile Choices—Anyone Else?
That’s a really solid point about wider grout lines being more forgiving, especially in older homes. I ran into the same issue when we redid our kitchen backsplash. The walls looked straight until we started laying tile, then suddenly nothing lined up the way it was supposed to. Trying to force tight joints just made the unevenness stand out more, and honestly, it was a headache.
Wider grout lines definitely helped us hide some of those imperfections. I was worried at first that it would look too “busy” or dated, but once everything was grouted and cleaned up, it actually looked intentional—like it belonged in the space. There’s something to be said for embracing the quirks of an older house instead of fighting them at every turn.
I get why people love the look of minimal grout, especially with modern tiles and perfectly flat walls. But in reality, most homes aren’t built like that, and unless you’re hiring a pro or spending a fortune on prep work, wider grout just makes life easier. Plus, it’s a lot less stressful when you’re not obsessing over every tiny misalignment.
One thing I did notice, though—wider grout lines can be a pain to keep clean if you go with a light color. We ended up sealing ours twice and still have to scrub them down every so often. If I had to do it again, I’d probably pick a darker grout just to save myself the hassle.
At the end of the day, I think it comes down to what works for your space and your sanity. Sometimes “perfect” isn’t worth the extra effort, especially in those cramped or awkward spots where nothing is square anyway.
