35 Subway Tile Bathroom Ideas That Work Every Time

Sometimes, less is more. Streamlining the space with a clean and cohesive tile shape is a great move for smaller bathrooms, while the choice of a dark grey (nearly black) grout with wider grout lines creates a cool graphic pop that keeps things interesting.

These Unexpected Subway Tile Bathroom Ideas Are Anything But Boring

Ah, subway tile. Who knew such a small, unassuming shape could be so controversial? When the subway tile trend hit hard a few years ago and quickly spread from bathrooms to kitchens to your corner coffee shop, we were more than happy to see such a refined and classic look come back into the fold. But as with all trends, it had some detractors—those who argued that the ever-presence of these little white rectangles was unchecked and that the seemingly trendless style had become a trend in and of itself.

Subway tile is a rectangular tile that typically measures 3 inches by 6 inches, though it can be any rectangular tile with a length twice its height. Subway tile is common in kitchens and bathrooms.

Well, we beg to differ. With ever-more enticing color options, perfectly-imperfect hand-touched artisan styles, and unique grout juxtapositions, we’re firmly of the camp that says subway tile will never die. In fact, it’s looking fresher than ever, thanks to the inventive and sometimes off-the-wall imaginations of our favorite designers. Looking for clever subway tile bathroom ideas? Look no further. These powder rooms and primary bathrooms prove that subway tiles are here to stay (and can be interpreted in more than one way).

Primary Bathroom

The term “Primary Bathroom” is now widely used to describe the largest bathroom in the home, as it better reflects the space’s purpose. Many realtors, architects, interior designers, and the Real Estate Standards Association have recognized the potentially discriminatory connotations in the term “Master.” Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge.

Click through to see the bathrooms that are turning typical subway tile on its head—but be warned, they just might inspire you to get grouting yourself.

Create Contrast

There’s so much to love about this stunning subway tile bathroom. The dark blue-grey door and gold accents feel traditional, while the poured concrete sink and funky floor tile make the overall effect eclectic and modern. In short? We’re sold.

Keep It Simple

Sometimes, less is more. Streamlining the space with a clean and cohesive tile shape is a great move for smaller bathrooms, while the choice of a dark grey (nearly black) grout with wider grout lines creates a cool graphic pop that keeps things interesting.

Grout doesn’t have to be black or white. Go for off-white, a shade of blue, or even pink to make your tiles pop.

Light and Airy

Ultra-thin grout lines and a bright white color palette let these subway tiles melt into the background, letting the focus fall on the stunning soaking tub and octagonal floor tile. But look closely and you’ll notice a slightly uneven, handmade element to the subway tile that adds texture and interest to this gleaming surface.

Modern Mix

Don’t let subway tile’s classic appeal limit your creativity! This super-chic shower by Pure Salt Interiors uses contrasting hexagonal tiles in shades of grey in the storage alcoves and floor and adds even more interest with a striated marble-like ledge (a perfect perch for a plant, or for a leg up when shaving).

Embrace The Unexpected

This subway tile bathroom looks relatively de rigueur. until your eye lands on the floor. Unabashedly bold black penny tile and a high-shine black toilet take this look from understated to downright dramatic—and we’re all in favor of the effect.

Shades Of Grey

Designer Tara Kantor’s understated, Scandi-minimalist bathroom is proof that even a limited color palette can yield a stunning result. Different shades of grey and white let the various textures in the space really shine, from the matte floors to the soft leather drawer pulls to the sleek shower tile.

Best Of Both Worlds

Can’t decide between a trendy slab shower and classic subway tile? Why not combine them? This shower has tons of instant oomph thanks to a beautiful (and more cost-effective!) piece of slab set into an inlet. Not only does it mean less grout to clean, but it makes the brushed brass fixtures really *pop*.

Pottery Barn Langford Pressure Balance Faucet Set $1,799.00

Boho Bath

Subway tile is often synonymous with a more timeless, traditional look, but as this design from Rikki Snyder proves, it can also work in a modern boho bath. Pepper in warm wood accents, woven baskets, and an imported runner, and the final result is less expected (and much cozier).

Black and White and Bold All Over

Punching up basic subway tile with a mix of bold and graphic black and white accent tiles = a super-savvy way to insert some personality into even the smallest space. We love the mix of Moroccan-inspired concrete floor tiles with mod angular arrow motifs (made up of adjoining parallelograms).

EliteTile Retro Soho Porcelain Subway Tile $15.00 $9.00

Short Stack

If you’re not married to the classic offset-line look of subway tile, try flipping this iconic look on its head (and then its side. and back again). Three-tile stacks in an alternating square pattern add tons of dimension and motion to this sleek bathroom backsplash.

Think Pink

Proof positive of how an unexpected color scheme can transform versatile grey and white tile: this bathroom takes on a modern glam feel with subtly pink-hued walls, which lend added dimension to the combination of artisan subway tile and hexagonal floor tile.

First Blush

For a more femme take on subway tile, we love the idea of using it only halfway up the wall and adding a petal-inspired wallpaper to soften the overall look. A chic vanity stool completes the look (and adds a stylish space for primping.)

The Dark Side

A maximalist’s dream bathroom. Black subway tile with high-contrast white grout pairs strikingly with technicolor floral collage-inspired wallpaper, creating a thoroughly unexpected take on the classic tile shape.

Blue Dream

If the stark look of white tile isn’t doing it for you, opt for a moody shade of indigo blue to breathe new life into the space. Even a single wall of this evocative hue can transform a powder room in the best way.

Work Those Curves

When you plunk a rectangular mirror onto a wall of subway tile, the whole thing can seem a little. square. And while round mirrors are certainly having a moment, we much prefer the look of something like this statement style—an architectural, Moroccan-esque archway mirror lends global flair to a basic black-and-white scheme.

Gorgeous Gradient

While many types of subway tile are a bit one-note in their color, handmade tiles are an excellent alternative to more commercial options because of the rich variation from piece to piece. This tiled wall is nothing short of breathtaking due to all the different subtle shades that make up the pattern, reminding us of fish scales or an artisanal patchwork quilt.

35 Subway Tile Bathroom Ideas That Work Every Time

Anabelle Bernard Fournier is a researcher of sexual and reproductive health at the University of Victoria as well as a freelance writer on various health topics.

Lacey Ramburger is a personality expert specializing in Zodiac, Myers-Briggs, and the Enneagram.

Subway tile is a rectangular, brick-like, usually polished ceramic tile that was first introduced in NYC subway stations in the early 1900s. Adorning kitchens, bathrooms and powder rooms, it comes in many colors and fits all kinds of styles, from traditional to contemporary.

The best thing about subway tile? It’s always fashionable. Like the little black dress, subway tile is the best choice if you want your bathroom to look great and retain its decor value through the years.

Wrap the Walls

With its sleek look and modern feel, you can never really have too much subway tile in a bathroom. This bathroom by Burchard Design Co. proves our point—all the walls are covered in the crisp white tile, with a few black accents (including that stunning clawfoot tub that’s in the shower) and plants to add some color.

Use Different Types of Tile

Who says you need to simply stick with one type of tile? Not us. This romantic bathroom by Amy Leferink at Interior Impressions contains three different tile styles and sizes, including a large version of marble subway tile in a traditional pattern and a smaller version arranged in a herringbone style. The color scheme keeps everything cohesive, yet the different patterns create a dynamic space that keeps the eye moving across the room. The gold accents on the tub and the chandelier add a bit of elegance that ties it all together.

Keep It Simple

Adding subway tile can take a smaller space and give the illusion of something larger, as shown in this shower from Brophy Interiors. The tile is only present in the shower, and the traditional pattern gives the impression of a larger shower as it wraps around the corners to fully envelop the space. It seamlessly blends in with the rest of the white color scheme, creating an effortless transition.

Try Colorful Herringbone

Same tile, different orientation, a whole lot of fun: this herringbone inset in a dark gray subway tile shower is interesting and eye-catching in this design by Cathie Hong Interiors. The tile is the same, but in a different orientation: herringbone. It’s an easy project that doesn’t add to your renovation costs and adds a whole lot of design value, while the color also adds an element of surprise.

Play With Layout

Herringbone isn’t the only way to present stunning subway tile. This vanity wall from AE Designs alternates between horizontal and vertical positions to create a complex design that isn’t actually all that difficult to put together. We also love the way the sharp, sleek lines from the tile contrast with the circular mirrors.

Try Modern Meets Rustic

Pairing subway tile with metallic accents is easy but is far from the only ideal pairings. The exposed wooden beams and chair in this bathroom by Marie Flanigan Interiors add a distinctly rustic touch, while the subway tile creates a modern feel.

Match Finishes

One of the easiest ways to seamlessly blend subway tile with other aspects of your bathroom is by simply using the same design or pattern. This bathroom from interior designer Maite Granda is a great example—the stone bench and the subway tile walls are united by the same marble pattern, creating a seamless transition.

Use Larger Tiles to Make an Impact

Large-scale subway tiles create an outsize impact in this bathroom from Marie Flanigan Interiors that enlarges and lightens up the room.

Use Vertical Tile With Dark Grout

This bathroom doubles up on new ways to present subway tile. Changing the layout from the classic horizontal to a vertical position gives the effect of a taller shower, especially since it goes all the way up to the ceiling. Additionally, AE Designs opted to change things up from an all-white effect by choosing a darker grout for contrast and visual interest.

Go Simple and Subtle

This bathroom from Emily Henderson Design is an ideal example of the subtle impacts of subway tile in a shower. “The subway tile is super classic, in a forever timeless “stagger” install,” Henderson says, “but this tile has this amazing beveling that gives it a bit more depth while still keeping it simple. I love the soft texture and shadows that it creates on the wall without making anything too visually crazy.”

Add Color

This green subway tile shower by Charlie Interior Design is paired with a gray marble bench, handheld showerhead, and marble-lined niche that feels more like a luxurious getaway than a closed shower in a bathroom.

Pair With a Vintage-Style Tub

There’s nothing out of the ordinary about this subway tile in a bathroom by Erin Williamson Design. But it’s here to show you that subway tile is the perfect backdrop for showcasing vintage or eclectic pieces. It’s subtle, classic, and doesn’t distract from more stimulating elements of your design, such as the copper clawfoot bathtub and patterned floor shown here. So if you get tired of your mismatched mirror and rustic vanity, change them up to something different without needing to change the tile—because it will accommodate any style.

Try Black Subway Tile Flooring

While white is always a classic, it isn’t the only color you have to work with. This bathroom floor from Marie Flanigan Interiors proves that black subway tile is a gorgeous choice to implement—it adds an almost dramatic flair that complements the grayscale scenic wallpaper perfectly.

Work With Similar Shapes

Subway tile serves as an ideal backdrop for different styles and concepts. However, reinforcing the pattern by incorporating similar shapes can highlight your tile choice. This bathroom vanity from House Nine Interiors includes a mirror that holds similarities to the rectangle pattern established in the subway tile, which creates a cohesive effect.

Use Tile in Multiple Places

In this bathroom by Erin Williamson Design, white subway tile lines the shower and the sink vanity for a cohesive look that allows the hexagonal window to shine.

Tile the Built-In Tub

This bathroom from Jessica Nelson Design doesn’t just limit the tile to the shower walls but also adds it to the outside of the built-in tub to create a seamless look.

Accent with Plants

Accenting subway tile with plants creates a modern yet earthy feel in any bathroom—especially when you add wicker and wood accents like this bathroom from @jcdesign1.1.

Opt for the Floor

One of the major benefits of subway tile is its versatility. Whether you want to use it on walls, counter, vanities, or even the floor (like this bathroom from JK Interior Living). This marble herringbone arrangement is the only pattern in an otherwise white space, adding some depth and interest.

Pair With Wallpaper

Subway tile also suits different patterns, like this autumnal blue and orange wallpaper choice from K Shan Design. The vibrant colors and whimsical pattern is surprisingly not as overwhelming as you might think. And, of course, as a blank canvas to start from, a classic white subway tile allows for infinite decor possibilities.

Use With Vanities of All Shapes and Sizes

Subway tile can be used in spaces of any shape and size. In this bathroom from Marie Flanigan Interiors, marble tile is used as the backsplash for the triangular-shaped double vanity area to create an elegant and sophisticated look.

Tile the Lower Wall

White subway tile on the walls of this small and narrow bathroom designed by Malcolm Simmons for Emily Henderson Design keeps them safe from splashes while blending into the white walls and allowing decorative elements to shine.

Add Stripes

K Shan Design used black and white subway tiles in a bold striped pattern that adds interest to this small bathroom without breaking the budget. The horizontal stripes make the room feel larger than it is.

Make the Niches Disappear

Tiling the twin shower niches in the same white subway tile as the shower walls allows them to virtually disappear in this bathroom designed by Malcolm Simmons for Emily Henderson Design.

Add Texture

Louis Duncan-He Designs combined flat white subway tile on the side walls with textured white subway tile on the far wall of this basement shower that elevates the simple design.

Play With Layout

Cathie Hong Interiors chose an unconventional layout for the off-white subway tiles in this California bathroom shower that makes them look brand new. Beige grout and gold plumbing fixtures keep it light.

Vary Color and Pattern

A mix of two-tone subway tiles in contrasting vertical and horizontal layouts add color and interest to this bathroom designed by Max Humphrey and Beebe Skidmore for Emily Henderson Design.

Make It Marble

Michelle Boudreau Design used marble subway tile on the floor and on the shower walls of this bathroom, running the tile all the way up to the ceiling to make the space feel larger. Gold-toned accents add contrast.

Try a Glazed Finish

Glossy glazed emerald green subway tiles add a rich feel to the shower walls of this bathroom designed by Max Humphrey and Beebe Skidmore for Emily Henderson Design. Pale grout adds lightness that works well with the white hex tile floor.

Use a Vertical Stack Layout

Cathie Hong Interiors added pale sage subway tile backsplash in a vertical stack pattern to add color to this California bathroom mixing midcentury modern influences with Japandi elements.

Use Glass Tiles

A pale gray painted glass subway tile backsplash behind the double sink vanity of this cool-toned bathroom from Leclair Decor adds a touch of color and shine to the neutral space.

Mix With Patterned Tiles

Mindy Gayer Design Co. used white subway tile with black grout to define the bath area using a floor-to-ceiling surround that works well with the patterned floor tiles.

Tile the Upper Wall

Laura Brophy Interiors tiled the upper half of the walls in this California bathroom with off-white subway tiles that add texture to the smooth stucco and polished concrete surfaces throughout.

Black Out

Glossy black subway tiles in a herringbone pattern add interest to the walls of this bathroom from Leclair Decor that works well with the dark wood tones on the sink vanity.

Go Retro

Erin Williamson Design paired white subway tile on the shower walls with classic penny tile on the floors of this vintage Austin TX bungalow outfitted with period appropriate finishes to create a timeless look and feel that looks like it’s been there forever.