Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jul 22, 2025

Genius Subway Tile Ideas Are Worth Recreating in Your Own Kitchen

Genius Subway Tile Ideas Are Worth Recreating in Your Own Kitchen

These backsplashes deserve a standing ovation.

It's no surprise subway tiles are popular for kitchen backsplashes. They're cheap, easy to clean, endlessly versatile, and arguably the most timeless option on the planet-no matter what environment they're in, subway tiles never seem to look dated. Whether you're renovating your kitchen, or you're just hungry for interior design inspiration, this batch of subway tile kitchen ideas and backsplash ideas will do the trick. From creative layout ideas to colorful variations, cool grout trends, and classic looks, you'll find something to recreate or Pin ahead.



Try Allover Tile


Subway tile on all of the walls (and up to the ceiling!) makes for easy cleanup in this kitchen by designer Philip Mitchell. The unlacquered brass hood and butcher block countertop add warmth to the space.



Extend to Your Pantry


In this entryway by designer Jim Dove, tiles extend to the mini staircase and onto the walls for a seamless look. Double pantry pullouts on one wall allow for sleek kitchen food storage.



Hide Your Subway Tiles


In this kitchen by Regan Baker Design, the floor-to-ceiling wood facade conceals the cabinets and countertops. If you want to use tiles as a backsplash but have something more sleek and modern in mind, too, consider a similar design concept. That way, you can feature both materials.



Only Go Half Way


In this space designed by deVol Kitchens, deep turquoise lower cabinets ground the spaec while the sage walls add a touch of levity. Between them, the subway tiles feel like a natural addition, thanks to the dark green grout instead of a classic white option.



Be Eclectic


Here's proof that subway tiles can even blend in with an industrial, modern environment. This kitchen designed by ETC.etera features edgy concrete floors, a retro red stool, classic black stained-wood cabinetry, an ultra-sleek island, and simple subway tiles. All together, they create an eclectic yet cohesive whole.



Switch Up the Pattern


If you were looking for ways to switch things up, look no further than this kitchen designed by Janis Nicolay. She went the traditional route with classic white subway tiles, but then opted for a chevron pattern for an understated but fun twist.



Reach for the Ceilings


Though subway tiles are most popular as a backsplash in the kitchen, they can also stretch all the way to the ceiling. In this Catherine Kwong-designed space, the subway tiles complement both the formal, sophisticated elements as well as the more casual and approachable parts.



Color-Block


Subway tile offers tons of room for creativity in the kitchen. Here, Chango & Co. created two stripes of olive green to add color and break up the white backsplash. They're placed under the white floating shelves, playing up the linear motif further.



Stay Neutral


Subway tile is great for going grayscale. In this kitchen designed by Chango & Co., the black grout pops against the white tiles. The graphic and geometric repeating bond pattern lends itself nicely to the monochrome color scheme.



Switch Up Your Grout


For this Los Angeles kitchen, Jenn Feldman Designs chose a tonal grout to blend in with the navy tile, which is set in a refreshingly unexpected chevron pattern.



Mimic Natural Stone


If you love the look of marble and other natural stones but don't want to splurge on a marble slab for the entire kitchen wall, opt for marble tiles instead. As you can see in this kitchen from @amuneal, it boasts that same coveted look.



Protect Your Wallpaper


If you can't resist a good wallpaper moment and want it in every room in the house, we support you. But one thing to keep in mind when decorating with wallpaper in the kitchen is how well it will resist moisture. It's best to just keep it out of splashing range all together. That's where subway tile comes in.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
×