How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic, Not Basic

How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.comLet’s talk tile, friends… everyone and their mother, brother, mailman, etc (you get the point) is using subway tile these. For the past six or seven years this classic material caught on in a big way and the trend isn’t seeming to slow. In my opinion, that’s a good and bad thing. The good news is this: people have discovered the magical and timeless aesthetic of subway tile. The bad news? Since subway tile has been a safe and trendy choice for quite some time now, the overuse of it is quite frankly feeling boring and dated, instead of classic. You’re probably thinking, “since it IS a classic material, you really can’t go wrong and it will never go out of style”… ehhh, yes and no. Like all trends- materials and decor cycle back around with time. Too much of a good thing doesn’t always end well, you know? Not to worry though! I’m sharing a bunch of tips for installing subway tile in a way that feels timeless, intentional, and anything but basic or boring. Click through for lots of ideas and ways to avoid using this popular tile without it looking too trendy or running the risk of it becoming dated. 

How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.comReady or not, here we go! You know what they say… variety is the spice of life. It’s only natural to get bored with something after you’ve seen it a million times on Pinterest, Instagram, or installed in five of your neighbors’ kitchens and baths. Something becomes “trendy” and runs the risk of feeling dated when a material or design is overused. That doesn’t mean a material is no longer relevant- it just means you have to be thoughtful in the way you install and design it, if you want it to withstand the test of time.

The key to using subway tile in a way that won’t get old is to look to history for inspiration. In doing so, you’ll find craftsmanship and intentional design.

I want to share some ideas for making this amazing and affordable tile feel fresh again! After all, I’m about to start installing our guest bathroom this week (YAY!), and there’s a reason I’m using subway tile… obviously I still love it.

USE TRIM PIECES
How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.com
source : elle decor

This goes for any tile job, if you want it to look finished and tailored… use trim pieces! Obviously the above image looks over the top because of the architecture. It’s stunning and not really the norm, but you get the point!

In my guest bath, I’ll be using this base tile, pencil liner, subway tile, and chair rail tile for a cohesive look. No matter your aesthetic, make sure the visible edges look and feel finished. Even if you’re shooting for a modern aesthetic, be sure to cap the tile with a line of simple bullnose tile or install a piece of schluter to hide an unfinished edge. I’m a details person and I promise- they make all the difference!

CONSIDER A BORDER
source : hj martin

The beautiful thing about subway tile is that it comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Don’t be afraid to add a little contrast with an inset border. You could even use a different material! Look how beautifully marble carrara pairs with classic white subway in the above image. Again, looking back through history, this technique was commonly installed. Spoiler alert… there will also be a border in my guest bath and just looking at the design plan gets me all kinds of excited for a fun graphic detail.

TRY COLOR BLOCKING
How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.com
source : anvil hotel

Obviously I’m a color blocking fan, and tile is no exception. This is a great way to elongate a space or break up a field of boring, white tile.

GIVE COLORED TILE A TRY
How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.com
source : yellow brick home

My friends Kim & Scott used a colored subway tile for the backsplash in their treehouse kitchen and the result is stunning! I love the warm gray hue that is still neutral and classic- yet inviting. Using a colored subway tile immediately feels updated and modern.

USE A DIFFERENT PATTERN
How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.com
source : caitlin wilson

Try running your subway tile in a different direction or pattern. This is the easiest way to make an impact using what you already have.

PUSH THE SCALE
How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.com
source : mowery marsh architects

Traditional subway tile is sized at 3×6 inches. However, there are plenty of options on the market that push the scale of subway tile in a unique direction. The above tile makes this bath feel more modern because of the elongated shape. You’ll also notice the designer ran it in a vertical direction. I’m calling that a win for both the scale and the unique pattern. Remember, when I ran the tile in my previous bathroom vertically to trick the eye into thinking the ceiling height was taller than it actually was? That’s another designer trick using tile orientation.

EXPLORE TEXTURED TILE
How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.com
source : studio mcgee

I’m loving textural tile lately. These handmade and hand glazed subway tiles take on a very organic and natural feel that add a ton of depth and variety to any wall. They feel timeless and effortless, yet updated. The textured tiles certainly give off a more casual vibe.

CREATE A UNIQUE NICHE
How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.com
source : megan bachmann

For added interest, I prefer to install a little contrast in the niche. Whether it’s behind the range or cooktop in the kitchen on the backsplash, or a shower niche in the bathtub, a little classy contrast goes a long way! You could trim it out with a different color, switch up the tile completely, run a different pattern, or play with scale. However you choose the highlight the recessed area, it will certainly add instant sophistication. Remember, we’re trying to steer clear of “basic”.

DESIGN THE SURROUNDINGS
How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.com
source : architectural digest

Lastly, the surroundings and accompanying design elements in a space highly influence the look and feel of a room. For example, if you’re installing subway tile in a bathroom because it’s a classic material, consider purchasing plumbing fixtures that will also withstand the test of time. The surroundings really come into play- it’s not just the tile! Everything that goes into a space plays a part in making it feel timeless, trendy, or dated.

If you’re wondering about grout, that’s an entirely different ballgame. Check out this post for tips on how to choose the right grout for your tile!

How to Make Subway Tile Look Classic and Not Basic - roomfortuesday.com
source : remodelista

For those of you that are rocking plain subway tile and are freaking out right about now… please don’t! Rock it, embrace it, and style the living daylights out of it. OWN IT. At the end of the day, it is a classic material- even if it’s everywhere. To sum things up, I’ll use this little analogy…

Subway tile is like a basic tee- you can wear it every single day and it can look fresh and new depending on how you style it. That’s exactly how I like to think of subway tile! It’s so versatile and can morph into any aesthetic- it just depends on how you install it. It will never really go out of style, but it can look boring if you don’t pay attention to the details. I’m so excited to start tiling this week! Stay tuned. Questions? Comments? I want to hear them all in the comments below!!

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11 Comments

  1. First of all, I had to google schluter; thanks for the education! Now. I added white subway to my kitchen a couple of years ago; we used the slightly smaller tile (maybe 2×4?) because the scale seemed better. We LOVE how it improved the look of our kitchen. Basic seemed right for our simple 1940s Cape.🙂 I love all of your suggestions…except the accent band. Sorry! I trust that you will make it beautiful, but I think I’m scarred by terrible glass tile mosaics in shoddy flip houses. On another note, you’ve mentioned a couple of times looking to history for timeless inspiration. Tell me how you do that! I’m intrigued. (Happy tiling!)

    1. Ha! I think schluter is a fun word. Anytime I get to use it in a project, I make sure to throw it into as many sentences as I can :) Great choice on your 2×4 kitchen tile- that’s a wonderful scale and a good variation to ensure you’ll love it forever!

      I’m hoping you’ll feel differently about my contrast border once you see it installed in my guest bath- I’m really excited about it, but no hard feelings if you don’t love it. Everybody has their preferences and that’s what keeps things interesting. I also understand the terrible glass mosaics in flip houses… that certainly wasn’t a good look and didn’t help the popularity of that detail. Haha!

      Yes!! I love ‘looking to history’ for inspiration. I’ll go back through old design and architecture books, or visit historic buildings in my city or when I travel. The bigger cities have the best inspiration, in my opinion- New York, Chicago, Cincinnati, Charleston (not big, but charming). I love seeing original tile (penny tile, classic subway, etc) or tile that was replaced with the exact same thing. It’s always super intentional, simple, installed with impeccable craftsmanship, and I’m always very inspired by it. In addition to tile, millwork is another good takeaway from those sorts of buildings!

  2. Sarah, I think you have chosen great photos as examples of classic tile. Tile can be enduring with good choices and quality installation. Our first house, a Cape Cod built in the 40s, had original tile in the bathroom and original floor tile to complement the wall tile and trim! The owners had remodeled other rooms and said the bathroom was next on the list. I was so glad they left the bathroom alone! And when we sold, the new owners were as appreciative as we were. Interesting that Cincinnati is on your list. I know that Cincinnati was a center for pottery arts in the first part of the last century, so it would follow that they might have some great examples of tile in homes there, probably hand made too.

    1. Yes!! That was the best choice for your Cape Cod. I bet it was beautiful! We moved to Utah from Ohio, so I have a soft spot in my heart for Cincinnati and the design there…. Emmett and I grew up near Louisville, and that’s another good city for historic inspiration in terms of tile :)

  3. I’m here looking Sarah, at your beautiful design which we love, because we are trying to build a house in Grenada, which we don’t have to do any installation, because it’s in the Caribbean, but it’s hard to find excellent architecture or builders there , and if we find one we have to trust them , because we heard and see how they treated people after they got paid, not a good treatment. My dad pass away not long and leave a piece of land for us, and I’m lucky he did, so we are trying to build a house there through the housing authority there, and we look at the houses they build, not bad, but the kitchen, bathrooms etc, we find it should build better or look great where we could enjoy a great spaces with our family and friend. We are building because the hotel are so expensive there. We wish we had some one like you to help us, because we love your unique designs. Much appreciate your designs.

    1. Thank you so much, Marilyn! Congratulations on your home in the Caribbean- that sounds incredible. I’m also very sorry to hear about your father’s passing. My condolences. I am glad to hear the blog has been helpful with your home design :)

  4. Kathi Mary Boas says:

    I can’t find the flat accent tiles anywhere in gray. They are all rounded tiles. Do you have any resources? In another bath I used 6 x .5 inch. I can go larger in this other bathroom.

    1. I would check with some local tile stores, Kathi! Usually they have the best selection and you’re able to see those details better than online.

  5. Tina Morse says:

    I have a basic cream colored subway tile backsplash. I want to keep the solid color (since our countertops are busy), but I like that aged look. Is there any way to paint the current backsplash to make it look aged? Can’t find anything online about it. Thanks.

    1. Hi Tina, I wish I could help with this, but I haven’t heard of or tried painting subway tile. You can definitely stain or adjust the grout color, but in regards to the tile- I probably wouldn’t advise painting it. I’m sorry I can be more helpful on this issue!

  6. Teresa Batrich Rhodes says:

    You definitely can paint the tile. Had friends who live in NYC do it and it looked great. Contact tub resurfacing company. If they paint the tile they will also be painting the grout.