Subway Tile: The Most Common Tile Questions, Answered

ByKylie M

When choosing a subway tile (or any tile) for your backsplash or shower – white, neutral, or colored, it’s not just about finding the best tile for the job; there’s a lot more to it. 

Is white the best choice? What size tile is best? Is subway tile the best choice – is it in style or outdated? What color grout should you use? And so on. 

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Along with helpful links on paint colors and update ideas, I’ve answered 8 of the most common questions homeowners ask when installing any type or color of tile in their kitchen or bathroom (with a focus on subway tile, as it’s the most popular). 

BEnjamin moore Revere Pewter kitchen cabinets with warm gray or greige subway tile backsplash (1)

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT’S BEST?

While I am the Patron Saint of Paint, I also know a thing or two (or a million) about home updates, decorating, and design. 

How?

I used to do in-home consulting, helping homeowners with affordable home updates, renovations, and new construction. I currently work ONLY online, consulting on paint colors and home update ideas. Between the two, I’ve been in over 11,000 homes. 

So, saddle up, Sparkle Farts, we’re in for some fun. 

1. WHAT SIZE TILE IS BEST?

It depends on the look you want…

  • 3 x 6 – Timeless
  • 3 x 9 | 4 x 10 – These can look a bit more modern, especially when stacked. Unless your space is modern and you have flat-panel cabinets, I lean into a staggered/brick layout. 
  • 2 x 4 – Can look a bit more traditional, but also suits some cottage-style homes

Anything bigger or smaller than those is a risk I wouldn’t take – but you do you, boo. 

2. WHAT LAYOUT SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

I was going to talk about tile size first, but it makes the most sense to hit layout – then size makes more sense! the best subway tile layout for backsplashes, brick, stacked, horizontal, square, and moreBRICK/OFF-SET LAYOUT: The most popular layout, by far, is a staggered or ‘brick’ layout. For the most timeless, classic look, this is your best choice. 

Combine a brick layout with marble tile, and you have one badass and beautiful, timeless backsplash…

Wood lower cabinets maple or cherry, marble countertop and subway tile backsplash, wood floating shelf, Sherwin Williams Alabaster and Pure White, decor

HORIZONTAL STACKED LAYOUT: If your home is a bit more modern or contemporary, you might choose a stacked layout.

Sherwin Williams High Reflective White cabinets with white stacked subway tile. Black granite countertop

This next bathroom’s green-gray tile looks a bit less busy in a stacked horizontal layout…

Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White, off-white beige paint color on bathroom walls, walk in shower, acrylic base, green-gray subway tile surround, white vanity, Omnia quartz, beige tile

VERTICAL STACKED LAYOUT: You could hardly pay me enough to do this in a kitchen. You do you, but in my opinion, it’s ass backwards for how a subway tile should be laid out, based on the shape of the backsplash area. 

As for the bathroom, while it’s not my personal favorite (that’s an opinion, not a decorative fact), so you do you!

Bathroom with painted wood (oak) vanity cabinet in Sherwin Williams Riverway (teal) with vertical subway tile in shower, quartz countertop, soft gray

SQUARE TILES: While they’re a bit in style now via the Zellige tile trend, be cautious, as square tiles aren’t timeless, whether you stack ’em or stagger ’em. 

CHEVRON OR HERRINGBONE: I have mixed feelings on these tile layouts – it depends on the surrounding finishes and tile product (marble vs. glass mosaic blend vs. porcelain).

The best paint colours for cabinets, white, High Reflective White, Sherwin Williams with marble herringbone backsplash, countertop. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint colour advice and consulting

My Online Consulting client hired me to change the cabinet color. The existing shade was too warm for the herringbone marble backsplash. 

While the odd home pulls them a herringbone or chevron pattern off, others look a bit too ‘try-hard’. They can also look too busy if paired with a busier, patterned countertop. 

With this granite countertop (below), a simple white subway tile would’ve been a better option…

Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist painted kitchen cabinets, with granite countertop, herringbone mosaic tile and Sea Salt walls

How to Update Older Granite Without Replacing It

This herringbone-patterned subway tile backsplash is perfection with the green cabinet color…

Green painted cabinets, Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog with herringbone pattern white subway tile backsplash

Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog Color Review

In the herringbone pattern, tiles overlap; in a chevron pattern, the tiles butt up to each other cleanly.

In this next kitchen, the chevron-patterned tile offers a classic, simple backdrop without looking dated or in-your-face…

Kitchen, Benjamin Moore White Dove, warm white cabinets and paint on walls, Brittania Blue lower cabinets, island, stainless steel, Fulgor, chevron backsplash, Omnia quartz, white oak floor

The Best Blue Cabinet Paint Colors

3. WHAT GROUT COLOR SHOULD YOU USE?

To keep things orderly, I’ll baby bird it to you, one section at a time…

GROUT COLORS FOR WHITE TILES (SUBWAY OR OTHERWISE)

Before you choose your grout color, decide whether you…

  • want to blend your tiles and tile pattern in
  • want to add a touch of contrast to your backsplash to ‘lightly’ accent the pattern
  • crave a high-contrast combo that accents your tile and its pattern. 

NO CONTRAST: If you want to blend the pattern of your white tile (the most common choice), match your grout to your tile. 

Sherwin Williams Pure White painted kitchen cabinets and ceiling, white floating shelves, subway tile, home decor

LOW-MEDIUM CONTRAST: If you have white cabinets and a white quartz countertop (with or without veining), you could choose an off-white/light grout color to add a bit of charm. Just don’t go too dark! 

Magnolia Teak Cups, blue-green on kitchen island with Sherwin Williams High Reflective White on cabinets, white subway tile, gray grout

This next image is my Online Color Consulting client’s BEFORE photo. Notice how the light gray grout ties into the older granite countertop…

Also notice how SMALL the grout lines are – perfect. You don’t want chubby grout lines on a backsplash. These are likely 1/8″, maybe even 1/16th.

If you’re updating your wood cabinets with a tile backsplash, adding a soft gray grout can be a gorgeous approach…

Kitchen cabinets, red oak with white quartz countertop, white subway tile backsplash, home update ideas

How to Update Oak Cabinets

While it’s hard to see in this image, the countertop is Cambria Torquay, which has light gray flecks (find it in this blog post).  

Here’s another wood kitchen that’s been updated with a new backsplash with an off-white grout…

Ideas to update maple orange stain wood cabinets similiar to golden oak with older black granite countertop, warm white subway tile backsplash, tile floor, stainless appliances,

You can also use this approach if you have light gray walls, as shown in this bathroom…

Sherwin Williams Agreeable GRay in small bathroom, wood look tile floor wood vanity, white subway tile i walk in shower - Copy

However, I wouldn’t do the above in a kitchen with white cabinets and a mostly white countertop. The grout would need a bit more than the wall color to grab (e.g., more veining in the countertop).

The Best White Subway Tiles (That You Can Order!)

MEDIUM TO HIGH CONTRAST: If you have a white tile (subway or other shape/pattern), these suggestions can vary depending on your surrounding finishes, but you’ll get the idea. 

If you have darker gray, greige, taupe, or brownish cabinets, you might consider matching your grout to them. The darkness of your cabinet color will dictate how dark your grout should be.

If you have colored cabinets (not white or neutral), the best option is to match your tile or maybe pick up on a light shade in your countertop…maybe (matching your tile is often the best choice).

Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog, best green painted cabinets, Kitchen, whitewash wood floor, island, herringbone white subway tile backsplash, black hardware, white quartz countertop

The Best Green Paint Colors for Cabinets

GROUT COLORS FOR COLORED TILES: GRAY, TAUPE, GREIGE, ETC.

This can include off-white, cream, gray, taupe, beige, blue, green – you name it. It can also include tiles with varying shades or colors! 

NO CONTRAST: For a no-contrast look that blends with the tile pattern (since a glossy tile adds interest on its own), match your grout to your tile.

This next palette includes off-white taupe cabinets, white quartz countertops, and a soft taupe backsplash. Notice how the tile, grout, and cabinets blend for a simple, seamless look…

Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray painted greige warm gray off white cabinets with subway tile backsplash and quartz countertop

The Best Off-White & Light Cabinet Paint Colors

LOW-CONTRAST: If your cabinets and tile match, you could add a bit of variation in the grout. To do this, choose a grout that’s a bit lighter, not darker (although there are exceptions). 

This section is SUPER LONG. Once you get past it, there are 5 more great questions, including gloss vs. matte, trends, and coordinating cabinet colors.

In this next laundry room, the green tile has two main depths. The grout matches the lighter one…

Benjamin Moore Avon Green, dark green painted wood cabinets in laundry room with green subway tile, soapstone countertop and dark gray tile

I love the subtle tone-on-tone of this next tile-and-grout combo, it speaks my love language loud and clear…

Sherwin Williams Rare Gray and Benjamin MOore Fieldstone with green-gray subway tile backsplash and white quartz counterotp, best paint colors, samplize peel and stick

With this next solid-colored taupe-greige shower tile, the grout is a good tone or two lighter. This offers a modest contrast – not too busy, but not boring either…

Bathroom with tub remodel with Moen Glyde fixtures, greige and gray subway tile and hexagon marble niche or alcove by Kylie M INteriors

This next kitchen has beautiful wood cabinets and a low-contrast tile-grout combo…

Update a wood kitchen with golden oak or orange maple cabinets, black granite countertop, warm white subway tile backsplash, stainless steel, tile floor

I love how the off-white, almost creamy backsplash tile sits with the wood cabinets, vs a stark white tile / How to Update Wood Cabinets – 6-Part Series

MEDIUM TO HIGH-CONTRAST: If you have white cabinets and non-white subway tile (gray/taupe/green, etc), you might choose white grout that matches your cabinet color (remember, no chubby grout lines). Obviously, the darker your tiles are, the higher the contrast will be. 

Here’s a classic, high contrast look with Benjamin Moore White Dove cabinets…

Butlers pantry with blue subway tile backsplash, wood floating shelves, Benjamin Moore White Dove shaker style painted white cabinets. KYlie M INteriors Edesign

In this next badass bathroom, the medium-contrast tile-grout combo works awesome… 

small bathroom, black herringbone marble look tile floor, dark wood vanity, marble look countertop, blue accent tile on wall behind vanity

Why? The gray grout ties into the gray in the countertop, as well as matching the grout around the floor tile. White would be too stark for a space like this.

Get the best paint color & home update advice with Kylie M’s Online Color Consulting!

In this next kitchen, while the grout seems too dark for the countertop…

Kitchen cabinets painted BEnjamin Moore REvere Pewter darkened, similar to Mindful Gray. CAmbria Britannica Warm off-white quartz, nickel hardware, gray subway tile backsplash

…it instantly connects to the dark kitchen island (below)…

Benjamin MOore Revere Pewter darkened, similar to Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray, warm, off-white quartz countertop, gray subway tile backsplash, White Dove trim and walls

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (darkened, which looks a bit like Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray)

If the above grout matched the tile, the overall look would be too bland/blending. Instead, the dark grout adds interest and a touch of drama. 

I try to cover as many situations and combos as I can – I’M ONLY ONE WOMAN! 

TILES WITH MULTIPLE TINTS & TONES

While it can depend on the tile, most people lean into the LIGHTEST part of the tile or the medium-depth. It’s not as common to lean into the darkest color in the tile. 

Wellfleet Aquamarine, blue green gray subway tile backsplash with Calacatta Valentin soft off-white quartz countertop with brown veining.

The Best Green-Gray Paint Colors

With the above green-gray tile, choosing a grout color that leans into the LIGHTEST part of the tile was a smart move; if they’d chosen a medium-depth grout, the gradations would blend in too much.

If your tile has various tones, the best option is ‘usually’ to match the lightest or the middle of the road depth – not the darkest shade in your tile.

With the next tile having a slightly dark border around each tile, it made sense to lean into the tile’s BODY (the lightest color), not the border…

Samplize peel and stick paint sample with taupe-beige toned subway tile backsplash with granite countertop

GROUT COLOR FOR MARBLE TILES…

If you’re using marble on your backsplash or in your shower (or even on your floor), you need to know which grout is best. 

Assuming your marble has a mostly white background (I’d say 60% white or more), white is your best grout color. Marble is so friggin’ glorious, it doesn’t need an ‘interesting or contrasting’ grout to bring it life – K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple…Sweetie. 

Sherwin Williams High Reflective White cabinets, marble subway tile backsplash, LG white quartz countertop. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, diy decorating ideas

The Best White Color For Every Surface

However, if your marble has more gray than white, or an even blend, you could consider a soft gray that matches the lightest, or at most, the medium-depth gray in your tile – NOT the darkest shade…

Kitchen, wood floor, MSI Miraggio Duo white quartz countertop, gold brass cabinet hardware, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace Kylie M Interiors, online paint color consulting, marble subway tile backsplash.

Affordable Ways to Design With Marble

Small bathroom powder room tile and shiplap update ideas. Marble and white quartz, Kylie M Interiors Edesign, diy

4. WHAT’S BEST, GLOSSY SUBWAY TILE OR MATTE?

A lot of it comes down to the look you want.

GLOSSY: Most people prefer glossy tile as it adds energy and life to a kitchen. It’s the most popular, ‘standard’ choice.

Sherwin Williams Pure White painted wood cabinets, Cambria Lakedale white quartz countertop, beige tile floor, taupe subway tile backsplash

I also love how the soft white grout matches the cabinets, adding a bit of interest to this taupe/warm gray backsplash. 

MATTE: Some prefer the look of what when they want to slow the energy down in their space. It’s a low-key, flatter look (flat isn’t a bad thing unless you’re me in Grade 11). 

These creamy cabinets look great with a matte creamy subway tile and blended grout. Glossy tile would look a bit out of character for this kitchen’s approach…

traditional kitchen with cream painted wood cabinets, matte or honed black granite countertop, oak wood floor, off-white subway tile backsplash

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5. WHERE SHOULD MY BACKSPLASH STOP – HOW HIGH, HOW WIDE?

Ahhh, this is always an interesting one. And while there are exceptions, here are some good guidelines to follow…

INSIDE CORNER: If your cabinet and countertop end in an inside corner, and you have a wall at a 90-degree angle to it, your backsplash ends on the BACK wall (not the side). 

Kitchen with taupe subway tile backsplash, Classic Gray painted cabinets with older granite countertop (2)

 

 

This (below) is never a good idea (3 slaps with a wet noodle)…

Dark stained pine wood cabinets, santa cecilia granite countertop, travertine tile backsplash, 2000s tuscan style kitchen

How to Update Your 2000s Kitchen

The kitchen below shows the best way to end a backsplash tile at a 90-degree corner where tile meets drywall (with no sink or window/countertop on the drywall area)…

Sherwin Williams Warm Stone lightened on cabinets with zellige look subway tile backsplash, white quartz, Ge Cafe matte black range

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IN A BATHTUB/SHOWER COMBO

When it comes to bathtubs, knowing that the inner edge of the baseboard can get saturated with water, I recommend taking the tile down to the floor…

Bathroom, warm gray greige subway tile surround, light gray grout. Tub and shower with glass sliding door. Kylie M Interiors, E-design online paint colour consulting blog

COUNTERTOP EXTENDS FURTHER: Assuming there’s wallspace above your countertop extension (it’s not a peninsula overhang or something), your backsplash ends where your countertop ends. 

While this next image is blurry (I take what I can get from clients and am so grateful!), notice how the upper cabinets look set-in to the tile. This height is then continued until the counter ends on both the far left and the far right…

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace with white subway tile that extends past the upper cabinets and stops with the counter

In this next kitchen ‘ideally’, there would be another cabinet in the blank space, or at least some floating shelves. 

Warm gray or greige cabinet samples. Benjamin Moore Smoke Embers, Cumulus Cloud, London Fog. White subway tile, white quartz. Kylie M Interiors Edesign paint

The Best Paint Colors with Red-Stained Woods

Regardless,  I like what they chose to do, considering the cabinets aren’t full-height (and will be painted so they don’t contrast with the tile so drastically.

Again, if your countertop extends further than your upper cabinets, your backsplash tile should follow the COUNTERTOP.

SHOULD THE TILE GO ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE CABINETS?

Most of the time, yes, but there’s a fine line of where to stop. 

EXAMPLE 1: In this kitchen below, there should be a full subway tile on top, so the cabinet doesn’t look like it’s sitting on the tile. Instead, it would look more set-in or integrated…

Painted kitchen cabinets. Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray, Gray Owl, white subway tile, black laminate countertop. Budget friendly Kylie M Interiors E-design Colour expert (1)

You could line it up with the top edge of the lower framing on the cabinet door (approx 2″ higher than it currently is).

EXAMPLE 2: This is a better way to integrate your backsplash tile with your cabinets. Notice how the subway tile lines up with the valance’s top line…

BEnjamin moore Revere Pewter kitchen cabinets with warm gray or greige subway tile backsplash (1)

EXAMPLE 3: Because the valance is so narrow on these next cabinets, they lined up the tile with the top of the bottom rail (the horizontal part of the door frame) – amazeballs…

AROUND A WINDOW: You have a few fun choices…

  1. If your cabinets are full-height, install your subway tile on the entire drywall area – above, below, and beside the window. 
  2. This is a harder one to explain… if you have cabinets on either side of your window, make your tile go a bit higher than the bottom of the cabinets. This way, it looks like your cabinet is set INTO the backsplash rather than sitting on top of it. It’s a nice way to blend worlds. 
  3. If your upper cabinets butt up against your window trim and you have a subway tile backsplash underneath the window, I’d do the upper wall space, too.

In this next kitchen (my client’s BEFORE image), I would install the tile around the window. 

As-is, it looks a bit too patchy, and the flow is interrupted by the drywall. The cabinet color also needs to be adjusted to be less warm-toned, but that’s a topic for another day. 

The Best Fool-Proof White Paint Colors

6. HOW HIGH FOR TILE AROUND A RANGE HOOD: CHIMNEY, STAINLESS, OR PLASTER?

If you have a range hood with no cabinets above it, you need to know where to stop your darn tile (or slab backsplash/quartz).

WITH FULL-HEIGHT CABINETS (CEILING-HEIGHT): Most of the time, I recommend taking your tile (or slab backsplash) to the ceiling as well. 

This next kitchen’s tile layout is perfect with the stainless steel chimney hood…

Sherwin Williams Eider White painted kitchen cabinets, off white gray, Cambria Brittanica and a light gray quartz.

The Best Warm Quartz Countertops

With the bulkhead acting as the ceiling (below), this is the perfect installation for the chimney-style range hood…

Sherwin Williams Alabaster or similar painted kitchen cabinets, herringbone marble tile backsplash, chimney range hood and dark wood island

Backsplash Tile Trends: Zellige, Subway, Herringbone & More

This next beautiful kitchen pairs well with its plaster range hood, and the full-wall tile installation was a smart choice… 

Kitchen cabinets painted Farrow and Ball Pigeon, a green blue gray blend paint color, with a zellige tile backsplash, white quartz. Client photo from Kylie M Interiors Ed

The Best Sage Green Cabinet Colors

STANDARD-HEIGHT CABINETS

While I don’t mind this next one, I might’ve stopped the backsplash with the top of the cabinets – not the crown molding on them, but the cabinet boxes themselves…

Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray, white kitchen cabinets, granite countertop, wood look tile floor

Again, this tile isn’t the best choice for this kitchen (below), the layout is great considering the chimney-style range hood – I would do the above kitchen a bit more like this…

Range hood, wall mount chimney style in stainless, kitchen before with dark espresso wood cabinets and granite countertops

How to Update Dark Wood Finishes

RANGE HOOD WITH A SLAB BACKSPLASH: QUARTZ, GRANITE, QUARTZITE…

While this first kitchen shows a non-traditional slab-style backsplash (it’s a sheet of laminate – LOVE IT!), I like that they didn’t line it up with the top of the cabinets (it would’ve looked too structured). Instead, the drop of 6-8″ gives this back wall more flow…

Iron Ore soft black feature accent wall in kitchen with formica marble look countertop, concrete floor. Budget friendly ideas to update, Kylie M

With a slab backsplash, it can look especially nice, bringing the quartz or granite to the ceiling (with full, ceiling-height cabinets)… 

Benjamin Moore Cloud White painted cabinets with white quartz and original fir flooring, slab backsplash and wall mount chimney range hood

7. HOW DO I CHOOSE A WHITE TILE THAT MATCHES MY CABINETS & COUNTERTOP?

Thank you for asking this question – you’re officially my favorite. 

MATCHING WHITE SUBWAY TILE TO WHITE CABINETS

Many homeowners rush off to their local hardware store, grab the standard ‘white subway tile’ and slap it on their walls, only to find that it doesn’t actually go with their ‘white cabinets’. 

In-stock subway tiles are whiter than my pasty little butt cheeks in the dead of winter (or summer, really). There just aren’t many cabinets that are THAT WHITE – even in-stock/manufacturer’s white cabinets can be softer. 

laundry and mudroom, Sherwin Williams High Reflective White with subway tile wall, cubbies and dark gray black tile flooring

 

  1. When choosing a white paint color for your cabinets, your backsplash calls more shots than your countertop. 
  2. If you’re choosing a white tile backsplash to go with your white cabinets, your cabinets call more shots than your countertop. 

Why? 

Because the cabinets and backsplash are on the same vertical sightline. Because the countertop is horizontal, there’s a bit more room for forgiveness. 

What about the wall color? 

It’s the least important because it’s the most affordable to change if needed. 

Now, if your kitchen is perfectly coordinated, all of your finishes will suit the same white tile or cabinet color. However, of the kitchens that show up on my daily to-do list (consulting), approximately 75% aren’t 100% coordinated. 

Benjamin Moore White Dove painted kitchen cabinets, Peale Green island, Sherwin Williams Pearly White walls (off white), white quartz, golden oak floor, 1990s early 2000s

 

Here’s a quick step-by-step…

  1. If you haven’t chosen ANYTHING, choose your countertop first. 
  2. If you already have your countertop, choose the best white cabinet paint color to go with it. This is important, as this white will also be used on your trims/doors (and probably ceiling), so it’s no one-trick pony. 
  3. Then, start tile shopping. 
  4. Your goal is to find a white tile that’s as close as humanly possible to your cabinet color.
  5. Don’t order one tile and cross your fingers and your eyes. Order 4-6 tiles so you have variations to choose from. 

MATCHING WHITE SUBWAY TILE TO YOUR COUNTERTOP

If you have wood cabinets or colored/non-white cabinets, your countertop finally calls some shots. 

red oak wood cabinets with marble tile backsplash and white quartz countertop

IS YOUR COUNTERTOP A WHITE QUARTZ WITH VEINING? Most white quartz countertops aren’t as white as you think. While a piece of white paper is cool and shocking, placing it on your counter will show you what I mean. 

Sherwin Williams High Reflective White cabinets with Magnolia Teak Cups on the island, whitewash wood floor, black pendants and white quartz

This is about as bright/white as cabinets get.

Bring home a range of tiles and see which ones blend with the body of your countertop. 

DOES YOUR COUNTEROP HAVE WHITE IN ITS PATTERN? Figure out what TYPE of white that is by bringing home a range of white subway tiles. Again, not as many quartz or granite countertops contain ‘actual bright, true white’. 

Silestone Et Calacatta Gold white quartz countertop with close-up of veins, gray and warmth

This is what happens when you put a bright white subway tile with a countertop that doesn’t contain ‘bright white’…

white subway tile and granite countertops

DOES YOUR COUNTERTOP HAVE NO WHITE? Again, assuming your cabinets aren’t white (as otherwise, they call the shots), look around your room for another main finish. 

  • Does your overall kitchen palette lean warm? If so, consider a warm white subway tile. 
  • Does your kitchen palette lean more ‘neutral/cool’? Consider a standard white tile.
  • If you have another white feature in your room (e.g., white tile flooring), lean into it. If you have a trim color that’s a stark or warm white, consider that as well (assuming it’s the best trim color for your space; if not, that might need a shift). 

8. IS SUBWAY TILE TIMELESS, TRENDY, OR OUTDATED?

Did you know that something can be timeless and trendy at the same time? It’s true, both can exist.

Just like white t-shirts and blue jeans – white subway tiles never go away, it just depends on what you pair them with!

Budget friendly kitchen with painted cabinets Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray, white subway tile and black laminate countertops. Kylie M Interiors Online Color Consulting and E-design

While subway tile isn’t necessarily at the height of its game right now, it’s still super popular. 

Why?

Because it’s timeless. More so than Zellige, penny tiles, mosaic, or travertine, subway tile is a timeless tile choice. This means that whether it’s currently ‘trending or instyle’ is beside the point – because it’s timeless, it’s usually a good idea. 

Bathroom vanity cabinet High Reflective White, white countertop, subway tile accent feature wall. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consultant

QUICK SUMMARY (TL;DR)

  • Subway tile is the most timeless backsplash choice, especially in the 3 x 6 size
  • A brick or staggered layout is the most popular backsplash pattern. Horizontal, stacked layout shows up a bit more in bathrooms.
  • If you have white cabinets, your white subway tile should match them as closely as possible. 
  • Glossy is the most popular tile finish and the easiest to clean.

Do you have any questions not covered here? Let me know in the comments! 

READ MORE

How to Add Personality to a Subway Tile Backsplash

Tile Trends: Zellige, Slab, Subway Tile & More

Get the best paint color & home update advice with Kylie M’s Online Color Consulting!

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