Everyone's favorite is subway tile. Subway tile designs might be a touch boring, but mixing it up with a creative pattern can make all the difference in your house. So today we're talking about subway tile and how to lay it in different ways to give your home a distinctive look.
Subway tile first appeared on the scene in the early 1900s, when it was installed in New York's subway stations. People were moved by it and began incorporating it into their homes, particularly in their kitchens and bathrooms. It has a vintage style to it, but it also has a modern feel to it. Subway tile was originally 3 in. x 6 in., but today it comes in a variety of sizes, from long and slim to short and hefty. Because it's so adaptable and has been around for almost a century, this tile is one of those design elements that will never go out of style.
9 New Ways To Use Subway Tile in 2022
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At a 90-degree angle, Herringbone
The traditional herringbone pattern was simply turned 90 degrees. Vertical and horizontal subway tile designs work nicely in a larger room, such as a shower, rather than a single huge pattern, which may be overwhelming in a vast and tall space. The 90-degree herringbone also draws the eye up and adds visual interest to the room.
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Ladder with Steps
Consider how this might seem as stepping stones on a step ladder. This one looks fantastic in a surround shower design and helps to open up the room. It's a unique design that you don't see very frequently, but it makes a strong statement, as you can see. Consider incorporating a step ladder into a bathroom niche or a more inventive subway tile pattern in the kitchen.
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Subway in its purest form
The traditional subway tile is shown here. The tiles are arranged like bricks in this pattern. This is how subway tile got its start, and it gives any room a timeless appeal. Because it's ageless and matches nicely with other forms, such as the hexagon, this is the most popular choice among our clientele. With the basic subway tile design, they like to add a lively burst of color. Below is another bathroom with the traditional subway tile. The classic subway tile patterns were combined with a black hexagon statement wall to create a beautiful focal point in the room.
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Geometric Design
Placing two horizontal tiles adjacent to two vertical tiles creates this fascinating design. It provides a dramatic geometric design while preserving a traditional sense. There's one in the kitchen right now, and we're really happy with how it ended out.
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Tiles stacked
The stacked horizontal is similar to the stacked vertical, except the tile is now piled horizontally. The grout lines are straight, and the tiles are stacked one on top of the other. This aesthetic pairs nicely with a contemporary kitchen design and exposed wood shelves, which produces pleasant horizontal lines throughout the space. Because of the linear design, this is one of the subway tile patterns for you if you like the mid-century modern look or your taste is more modern than traditional.
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Vertically stacked – alternating
Use the vertically stacked subway tile pattern to create a visually fascinating shower wall, but offset the rows. This pattern has a more modern appearance and hence works well with complete tile walls, such as in a bathroom or as a feature wall in the kitchen or near the range hood.
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Herringbone is a traditional pattern.
One of our favorites for giving subway tile a completely different appearance! The tiles are arranged in a stylish design that is diagonal. It serves as an accent wall and makes any wall pop. For our own houses and for clients' floor tile, we use the herringbone pattern frequently. It's a timeless appearance that I don't see going out of style anytime soon. We used handmade tile to create this herringbone pattern for the job below, and it brought a distinctive aspect to this kitchen update.
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6 At a 45-degree angle, make a herringbone.
Take #10 and rotate it 45 degrees for this effect. This pattern is ideal for a tiny bathroom or kitchen because it keeps your gaze moving around the space, making it appear larger. It's also a terrific method to lead the eye around the room or focus emphasis on a particular feature.
Even if you use the traditional subway tile in your design, attempt to include some different unique tiles and arrangements. The shower in this restoration was done with traditional subway tile, and the accent wall was done with blue fish scale tiles for a splash of color and extra dimension.
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Vertically stacked – alternating
Use the vertically stacked subway tile pattern to create a visually fascinating shower wall, but offset the rows. This pattern has a more modern appearance and hence works well with complete tile walls, such as in a bathroom or as a feature wall in the kitchen or near the range hood.
Conclusion
You just cannot go wrong with any of the subway tile patterns! Have some fun with it by shaking it up. Even if you use the traditional subway tile in your design, attempt to include some different unique tiles and arrangements. The shower in this restoration was done with traditional subway tile, and the accent wall was done with blue fish scale tiles for a splash of color and extra dimension.
