Subway tile being placed in a kitchen I’m designing

Subway tile has been incredibly popular for decades and decades. And there’s a reason for that - it’s a clean and timeless look that fits almost any decor style. I love to use subway tile in kitchens and bathrooms, and I’ve even placed it in laundry rooms and mudrooms. There are new looks mixing into the usual white glazed subway tile designs today. Here are 3 of my favorites!

Matte White

We’re all familiar with the glazed or high-gloss versions of subway tiles. They’ve been around forever. But now there are new matte finishes for subway tile that I really love. It’s a more subtle look that’s quietly taking over in kitchens. They still wipe clean but they have a softer style that doesn’t shout for attention.

Long and Lean

Rather than the traditional rectangle, there are longer and slimmer tiles on the market now that I just love. The common size for these tiles is 4x10 or 3x6, but the newer tiles I’m seeing are 2x10 or even 2x20. It makes a more unique look, like in the shower above. Believe it or not, this is actually more like the tiles we would have seen in mid-century modern homes years ago. I am thrilled that it’s a returning design style!

Color

White subway tile is timeless, crisp, and clean. But what if you crave color? Today there are subway tiles available in thousands of shades, and I couldn’t be happier! In fact, I used dark navy subway tile with a contrasting white grout in my own guest bathroom (seen above). If you can dream it, you can definitely find a subway tile color that will bring your dream to life.

What do you think of these new subway tile looks? Would you be daring enough to try a bold color? Let me know in the comments section below!

Warmly,

Beth