17 Subway Tile Ideas That Are Far From Boring

Put a modern twist on this longtime favourite with these creative musical theme for subway tile .

Marty Baldwin

Subway tile is a timeless classic . Popular in kitchen , bathrooms , and anywhere else that uses tile , the orthogonal tile has become a design icon with a history dating back to the beginning of the 20th C . The blank tile was first used in New York City subway station , which is why it ’s calledsubway tile . The glass rectangle - shaped wall covering was a hardheaded option as it was easy to keep clean-living and its glossy white surface reflected light well to clear up the dreary subways .

Interior of bathroom with shower cubicle

Credit:Marty Baldwin

Today , subway roofing tile become beyond thetraditional running - bondlook and is available in unnumbered colors , materials , and finishes . you could use dissimilar grout colouring material , play around with locating to create unexpected patterns , mix it with other types of roofing tile , or pair it with a bold blusher color for dramatic impact . If you remember evident metro roofing tile is ho-hum , think again — we’re sharing stunning subway tile idea that put a modern twist on the classic design .

Create a Chevron Pattern

Ryan Bent

Have fun with tube tile arrangement and habituate a chevron aim . This is sometimes also referred to as aherringbone patternwhen the tiles are pose at 45 - degree angles . The pointed design helps tie the eye up , highlighting the vintage - dash wall sconces and a Mrs. Henry Wood board covered roof in this kitchen .

Pair it with Natural Wood

Adam Albright

sheeny green subway tile arranged in a traditionalrunning bond patternpairs beautifully with natural Natalie Wood float ledge in thismodern kitchen . Its vibrant color modernizes the roofing tile ’s classic placement and extending it all the way to the ceiling infuses the infinite with bracing energy and a adult Elvis of color .

Black Subway Tile

David Greer

Switch things up and go for disastrous underpass tile andwhite groutto make a bluff affirmation . Here , clear grout accentuates the tile ’s rectangular shape while white locker brighten the space and sum line . A readiness of smart floating shelves pops against the drear wall covering .

Combine Tile and Wallpaper

Jay Wilde

Create a layered aesthetic by pairing classic snowy tube tile on the walls with an ornately detailed wallpaper and asmall - scale tile on the storey . It ’s an soft direction to prune up definitive white subway system tile and forestall it from looking deadening . It also gives the room an eclectic feel while maintaining a impersonal people of color pallet .

Use an Accent Tile

Kimberly Gavin

A patterned subway tile adds a cosmetic idiom above the range in thisrustic kitchen . It provides subtle contrast to the surrounding unmixed white backsplash and softens the appearance of the Mrs. Henry Wood cabinets and grim stone countertops .

Juxtapose It with Bold Wallpaper

Brie Williams

A traditional snowy underground roofing tile gets a present-day makeover when juxtaposed with abold bathroom wallpaper . The glossy white lower one-half of the privy balances out the busyness and vibrancy of the wallpaper , mixing the modern and the classic in a unseamed and elegant mode .

Subway Tile with a Border

Add visual interest and break up a paries of plain bloodless subway tile by incorporating a colorful border made up of minor mosaic - style tile . The blue square tiles in this bathroom contrast the subway tile in size , configuration , and people of colour , and tie in the grim accent for a cohesive feel .

Tile the Range Hood

A range hood is an unexpected kitchen element to cover with tube tile , which instantaneously makes the canonical tile looking at more particular . It blends in seamlessly with the backsplash , and its classical arrangement make elusive dividing line to striped figure of theshiplap - covered roof .

Highlight a Walk-In Shower

Annie Schlechter

Dark subway tile aid highlight this stunningwalk - in showerand tie in the charcoal gray-haired walls . The dark tile pop out against the nipping white trimming , while a vintage - expressive style carpeting alongside establishment and acrylic pedestal sink bring a note of elegance to the space .

Use Vertical Subway Tiles

develop subway system tile with an unexpected placement , such as thisvertically arranged bathroom tile . It help draw the eyes up and extends the height of the bathroom wall , which is a slap-up joke forsmall bathroom spaces .

Black and White Bathroom

Thisblack and white bathroomlayers a traditional snowy subway til with a bold pattern black and clean floor tile for a timeless effect . White subway roofing tile can easily look boring and sterile , but only using it halfway up the paries and setting it against a more spectacular roofing tile keeps it overbold .

Marble Subway Tile

Marble subway tileis a fun way to add a lavishness stuff into your kitchen , and the monetary value for marble roofing tile is typically much humbled than for countertops . Opt for this feel if you want a classic esthetic with a little more dimension than plain white tile .

Large-Scale Subway Tile

An oversized subway tile backsplash extends to the roof and provides an uncluttered backcloth forfloating shelvesin this kitchen window space . Go for a large - scurf roofing tile to nullify a busy look , especially when the rest of the blank space is fussy and detailed .

Green Subway Tile

Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Green subway roofing tile defines a luxuriouswalk - in showerand enlivens this otherwise all - white lav . Use colourful subway tile as a colouring material block trick to section off different areas within a bathroom , creating contrast and visually attribute a procedure to each .

Farmhouse-Style Kitchen

Edward Gohlich

Beige subway roofing tile adds warmth to thisfarmhouse - fashion kitchen . Its glossy grain works well with the elbow room ’s light and lustrous artistic , helping bounce light around . The roofing tile color is the perfect accompaniment to the Grant Wood planked roof which is painted a sweet spook of light blue air for an illusion of bringing the outdoors in .

Colorful Subway Tile

If you haveopen remit in your kitchen , view the vividness of the items on display when prefer your backsplash to enhance a color scheme . Here , white-hot cabinets are a neutral backdrop for vivacious beauty and glassware , and a light-green subway tile backsplash brings depth and integrates a non - lasting display feature such as cup of tea in an designed way .

Keep it Neutral

PANICHGUL STUDIOS

sheeny beige subway tile impart a hint of coloration and a long ton of warmheartedness to this small but working kitchen box . Aneutral color paletteprevents the corner from wait cluttered while create a soft aesthetic and grant the glazed ceramic tiles and countryfied wood corner shelf to shine .

kitchen makeover with white herringbone subway tile backsplash, white shaker cabinets, black stools, windows and appliances